In the glittering era of 1970s Bollywood, few stars shone as brightly as Parveen Babi. Her mesmerizing beauty and effortless charisma captivated audiences, turning heads in every frame she graced. But it was her sizzling on-screen chemistry with the legendary Amitabh Bachchan that etched her name in cinematic history.
Born on April 4, 1949, in Junagadh, Gujarat, to a loving Muslim family, Parveen entered the world 14 years after her parents’ marriage. Pampered from childhood, tragedy struck early when her father, Vali Mohammed, passed away while she was just five. Her mother, Jamal Bakhte Babi, raised her single-handedly in Ahmedabad, fostering a bright student who excelled in studies and sports. Parveen later graduated in English Literature, setting the stage for her dazzling career.
Her silver screen debut came in 1973 with ‘Charitra’ opposite cricketer Salim Durrani. Though the film flopped commercially, Parveen’s stunning looks and poised performance drew rave reviews. The real breakthrough arrived with ‘Majboor,’ where she proved her acting chops went beyond mere glamour.
The magic truly sparked with Amitabh Bachchan. Across eight blockbuster films like ‘Amar Akbar Anthony,’ ‘Namak Halaal,’ ‘Deewaar,’ ‘Kala Patthar,’ ‘Suhag,’ and ‘Shaan,’ their pairing became legendary. In ‘Amar Akbar Anthony,’ Parveen’s comic timing and flirtatious glances alongside Big B had audiences in splits and awe. ‘Namak Halaal’ showcased her glamorous allure in song sequences that are still replayed today, while ‘Kala Patthar’ highlighted her dramatic depth.
Parveen’s stardom peaked in 1976 when she became the first Indian actress to grace Time magazine’s cover—a testament to her global appeal. Over her career, she starred in nearly 100 films, sharing screen space with Shashi Kapoor, Dharmendra, and Naseeruddin Shah, always leaving an indelible mark.
Off-screen, her life was a whirlwind of high-profile romances linked to Danny Denzongpa, Kabir Bedi, and Mahesh Bhatt. Yet, in 1983, she abruptly quit the industry, moving to Bangalore and later the US, battling personal demons in isolation. Tragically, on January 20, 2005, she was found dead in her Mumbai apartment after three days, her mysterious passing closing a chapter on one of Bollywood’s most enigmatic icons.