When you think of Parveen Babi’s life, what comes to mind? The fact that she lived to break conventions? The arc lights? Or the death in seclusion? It is a question perhaps only Babi can answer. She lived in her private hell as the persona non grata, away from her loved ones, and forgotten by those who once clamoured for her autograph.
Born in an aristocratic family in Gujarat, Babi was schooled in English and carried an air of bohemian elegance, which caught the attention of BR Ishara, the man behind the controversial film Chetna (1970). Babi was cast opposite ex-cricketer Salim Durrani in Charitra (1973) which went cold turkey at the box office. But Babi with her tall frame, and rapturous eyes could not be ignored.
Offers poured in, but success eluded Babi until Amitabh Bachchan came to her rescue. It was the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Majboor (1974) which gave her her…