Mumbai, Jan 22: Parveen Babi, the actress who captured the bohemian essence of the 1970's, was among the few to transform the image of an Indian actress on the big screen from the ethnic sari-clad woman to one who flaunted a Westernised upbringing, blew smoke rings into the air, displaying a nonchalant attitude to life.
The Junagadh-born actress was first discovered by B R Ishara who cast her in the film 'Charitra' in 1973. Though the film did not stand out, her looks did.
With her sophisticated demeanour and her ability to carry roles that cast her as the westernised female protagonist dancing to seductive number at a dance club ('Namak Halal'), as the sleek westernised woman in love with an orphaned boy ('Amar Akbar Anthony') or as one romancing the beach in bikinis, she managed to woo viewers to the cinema screen.
The actress whose `Barbie doll' image coupled with her seductive looks haunted viewers for years as she sashayed down the ramp, singing the seductive number `Raat baki' or `Jawani jaaneman'. Her long flying tresses, her roses and peach complexion coupled with her aesthetically sculpted looks that made her a popular `cover girl' for many a film magazine.
Parveen's popularity chart went racing when she teamed up with superstar Amitabh Bachchan in several films. However, it was her film, `Amar Akbar Anthony' as the friend of the good-hearted but alcohol loving 'Anthony' that saw her career reaching new heights. Her role in `Deewar' again with the superstar saw the pair being among one of most popular pair on the Indian celluloid.
Starting with the film `Majboor' with Amitabh, she went on to be paired with him in films like `Shaan', `Kala Pathar', `Khuddar' and `Kalia' which were lapped by cine goers. Her role in the hilarious comedy `Do aur Do Paanch' won her a loud round of applause.
The actress also paired with actors like Feroz Khan (Kala Sona, Khoon aur Pani) as well actors like Rajendra Kumar (Gunhegaar), Amol Palekar (Rang Birangi), Shashi Kapoor (Suhaag). Her oeuvre of films also included some off-beat films like ‘Yeh Nazdeekiyan’ with Marc Zuber, `Dil Aakhir Dil Hai' with Naseerudin Shah.
In a career, interspersed by heartbreaks, a `disappearing act', rumoured mental sickness, Parveen managed to essay several roles, including a neglected wife in the 'Burning Train', a gangster's girl in `Meri Awaaz Suno'.
One of the few heroines who appeared a natural `star' with her flamboyance and looks, it was her personal life story that lit up the gossip columns. Her relationship with the iconoclastic director Mahesh Bhatt and Kabir Bedi, her finding solace in their spiritual guru, U G Krishnamurthy, her mysterious disappearance from Bollywood, her close encounter with the Osho philosophy all added to the enigma of the star.
However, it was her battle with a mental sickness, her personal problems that saw her slipping from the picture of an ideal cover girl to a helpless actress in want of help. The film `Ardh Satya' which was reportedly based on her life also provided an insight to the actress.
Her persecution complex in the last stage of her life, her accusations against the super star and her complaint of being hounded by secret agents, provided visible signs of her much-talked sickness.
Bureau Report
