very sad to see her die like this.. she was a good actress.. however seeing AB doing the thumka with Hema Malini on the sets of Veer Zaara would have been the icing on the cake for her... i think thats what killed her.. rip...

yaar faddy pls check ur pm! u are right on re babi though!

Bachchan on Babi......

She was honest and loving

By: Subhash K Jha
January 25, 2005



Parveen Babi and I worked together in several films — Majboor, Deewaar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Namak Halaal, Shaan, Kaalia, Mahaan, Do Aur Do Paanch, and Kala Patthar.

In fact, I did the maximum number of films with Parveen after Jaya, followed by Raakhee and Rekha.

I had forgotten a lot of these films until the press reminded me of them after her death. And then I thought, ‘Gosh, so many films with Parveen Babi!’ Most of my films with her were superbly successful. The audience liked us as a pair.

She brought in a new bohemian kind of leading lady to the Indian screen. We’d work on all these films and go our own way. But because we belonged to the same social circle we’d often visit each other, listen to music…

She was a very fun-loving, light-hearted person — always full of joie de vivre. She was always great fun to be with and never interfered with anyone’s work. On the sets you barely knew she was around. She completely minded her own business. What happened to her is really sad. I feel very bad for her.

We all belonged to one big group — Romesh Sharma, Danny Denzongpa, Reena Roy, Smita Patil, Javed Saab, Parveen. When I had my accident they all would come to see me every single day. It was so nice of them. One never forgets the people who stick close to you at times of crisis.

I used to be very depressed at that point of time. In 1983 I took Parveen out for her first live show. And then suddenly she just disappeared. I don’t really know what happened. It wouldn’t be ethical to talk about her condition.

The nature of her illness was such that she was terrified of people. She wanted to be left alone. She deliberately distanced herself from everyone. We felt by associating ourselves with her we were causing her more grief.

Did she make a difference to Hindi cinema? Oh certainly! She was one of the first Indians to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.

She was very meticulous about her career. She had a very efficient management system. Her secretary and managers were very efficient.

She lived all on her own and was very self-dependent. I sincerely feel she was a very genuine very honest and down-to-earth person, very loving and caring. And that’s how I’d like to remember her.


Bachchan and Babi

Before she prematurely quit the film industry in 1983, Parveen Babi had done eight films opposite the superstar of his time Amitabh Bachchan.

After she returned from an extended stay in New York, Parveen, a former disciple of spiritual guru UG Krishnamurthy but considered to be in a mentally unstable state later, had accused Bachchan of abetting a conspiracy to kill her.

Your English is fine.

There has been quite a media response, and one of the other forums I have started to go on to have a thread extending to 12 pages / 200 posts / 3000 views in response to her death.

You may wish to check this site out, and find comfort amongst other fans who have been inundating the site with tributes and recollections since the past 10 days.

Here is the thread link:

http://www.talkbollywood.com/index.php?showtopic=13654

Parveen Wali Mohammad Khan Babi
Born April 4 1954 (as per Guardian newspaper)
Died January 22 2005



Kabir Bedi helps to carry the bier
during the funeral of Parveen Babi
on the evening of January 23, 2005.
She was buried according to Muslim rites
at the Santa Cruz graveyard, Mumbai,
at around 9:40pm, in the evening.

Art cannot graduate if it is not allowed to reveal weaknesses, vulnerability. Parveen Babi was buried without a murmur, writes our Senior Editor Diptosh Majumdar.

Bollywood still lives by cliches, hates tragic endings



New Delhi, January 25: Art cannot graduate if it is not allowed to reveal weaknesses, vulnerability. Parveen Babi was buried without a murmur and without co-stars paying their last respects because she was too fragile, too frail. Not her death but her co-actors and directors staying away from her last rites tells us that Bollywood still lives by cliches. In the 21st century, the Hindi film world does not know how to deal with vulnerability.

Only ten days ago, the same industry had paid glowing, tearful tributes to Amrish Puri. Puri had lived a full life, was predictably good-natured and a funny person to be with. Babi was living the life of a recluse. She had been allowed to live alone by all her former friends in her Juhu flat. Her death, not too unexpected, proved too difficult to handle for an industry that hates unhappy endings. She was schizophrenic, a mental disease which is not really the subject for Bollywood's masala-churning scriptwriters.

Mahesh Bhatt was the exception. His personal relationship with Babi could not keep him away. But Babi is not about personal relationships.

She opened a major door in an industry replete with Sitas, satis and savitris. She was the first Westernised seductress who the hero was allowed to have a relationship with. Hindi films have always been scripted in a way that the audience would have to identify with both, the hero and heroine. Babi broke down the barrier, she was the first temple-shy, oomph-laden, champagne glass-in-hand heroine. One of her urbane, glamorous characters even sinfully slept with the hero before marriage.

Strange that no Amitabh Bachchan, her co-actor in eight films, turned up at the burial. True, she had in her madness accused him of some incredible conspiracy some years ago. But deaths erase past wrongs, they are supposed to wring out forgiveness. None of her other directors were there. The present crop of heroines, several of whom, could not have done Murder or Aitraaz without Babi showing the way did not bother. It was apparent that it was not Babi who had built a Deewar or the wall (a film in which she had done a crucial, small role opposite Amitabh), its the industry that had.

Comments in Response to the Article above

• Shame on Bollywood

I am deeply saddened and disappointed in the whole Indian film industry... their indifference to this beautiful woman, her contributions, her life, and even her death, has taken away all the charm for the industry and its people. It has made my convictions stronger that barring a handful, all other affiliates of the industry are acutely shallow, who have nothing more to offer than their egotism and small-minded pettiness. I hope they don’t get the same tribute from their comrades, even though they deserve it. I hope our next generation does better than their forerunners.

Peace
Monisha.

Posted by: monisha sharma , United States, 09-02-2005 at 0945 hours IST


• Rest In Peace

Parveen Babi was my favourite actress from the 70's/80's and I was shocked to read about her life and death. Its a shame that the bollywood industry is full of selfish people who only think of themselves. At least now Parveen Babi will get peace of mind. I hope in her next life she is very happy. God Bless her Soul.

Posted by: Saijel , United Kingdom, 05-02-2005 at 2104 hours IST


• parveen babi

Shame on all that forgot about her, including the media! words cannot express the remorse I feel. parveen babi's smile lit up the entire screen, and her eyes danced with happiness everytime she smiled. By the way, does Bachchan know that his all time successful films were with Parveen? He should be ashamed for saying that he was not aware of how many movies he had made with her until he read about it in the media. I used to love this guy, but now he has shown his true colors to the world. Just remember, WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND!! and I pray to God that it happens soon to all the Big shots of Bollywood. You are nothing but a bunch of self centered hypocrites. How dare you compare yourself to Hollywood?!! May Parveen find the happiness and peace she longed for in Jannat.

Posted by: spinzer, United States, 29-01-2005 at 1035 hours IST


• we live in middle ages

Yes, we live in middle ages. Otherwise how we can say we failed to give respect to a fellow human being for being schizophrenic. We have great movies like ‘Anand” to highlight the suffering of cancer patient and mental state of a doctor. We shed tears for these persons. Please go through the comments appeared. Very few Indians cared. for Babi or any other mental patient.

Posted by: Kumar, India, 28-01-2005 at 2315 hours IST


• 'Angry young Man' really a COWARD

The mighty 'Angry Young Man' of the Indian cinema is really a coward, not to mention a womanizer. What worth even being called a 'Man' (forget angry) - when you can't stand up for your collegue, friend , lover - specially a sick one. Parveen will live on forever , becoming the Indian Merlyn Monroe. India will love u for ever, Parveen.

Posted by: Monu Singh, United States, 28-01-2005 at 2157 hours IST


• goodbye princess praveen

The original oomph girl,the queen of style and one of the classiest gal in bollywood in her heydays died a lonely death with no one at her side. the press unfortunately ridiculed her on her crazy ways while she was suffering from the worst form of mental illness. mental ilness is still a taboo in the indian society,that is such a shame.indian movie industry is full of hypocrates whose generousity is just a act. in praveen's case the film industry did not even care to bid her goodbye, they could not even put up a act of condolence.

Posted by: dheeraj dogra, United States, 28-01-2005 at 1001 hours IST


• Time to Wake up...

Parveen Babi is no more. May her soul find peace. There might be so many Parveen Babi's who are still alive. The film industry should show respect to all actors however big or small, during their good or bad days. They should live like a family. Reel life is easy to depict, at least something should be done in Real life also. I am sure there might be lots of small time actors who live and die without even getting prominence in papers. I hope the industry wakes up. No hard feeling.

Posted by: SK, Malaysia, 27-01-2005 at 1840 hours IST


• Parveen was used, abused & killed (mentally)

Parveen was used, abused & killed (mentally). It was the Strategy by her boy friends. Use & throw. Parveen's boy friends kept their family aside & ran the side bussiness afair with Parveen. They all had double fun.
Now all these men are living married family life, which they belive it as a respected life .We know everyone know. All these "VULTURES" were
flesh hungry. These famous actors in personnal life are like Indian filmi Villains.

Posted by: George kruz, United States, 27-01-2005 at 1829 hours IST


• Hat of to

Thank You" Indian Express" for providing Parveen Babi's fans to express their feelings. Thanks!! Parveens millions of fans all over the world pay their last homage through the only media "Indian Express".
"PARVEEN WAS ASSASINATED BY HER OWN BOY FRIENDS" This was not a physical murder, but was a mentally murder. It was a gang behind Parveen, Parveen belived they are true lovers & boy friend. She made a big mistake by beliving everyone as true & real lovers.It started with. B.R. Ishara, Amitabh,Vinod Khanna,Kabir Bedi,Danyy, Mahesh Bhatt &UG Murthy. Even Ug Murthy a mental pandit did not waste the beauty of Parveen at her last stage, was almost at the end of her life. They all proved to be "Vulture"
Like every one said in the posting, If there was a political campaighn, or a film award cermony, or a any Don's family member died, These all crooks would have shown their faces there. Bhatt said the Burial cermony was in rush. Bhatt dont give me that!
Parveen was buried after two days after her death. Her dear & near friends should not have any excuse to show up at her last depart. Like I said any Don's family died, you will see all the Bombay film Industry & politician

Posted by: George Kruz, United States, 27-01-2005 at 1819 hours IST


• Praveen Babi

It is a pity that someone like Parbveen Babi dies like this and no one from film industry attends the funeral. It's not only Amitabh Bachhan, it's everybody, all the big directors, producers - they did not give a damn. It reminds me of Guru Dut's movie Pyasa. That's what film industry is. Look at Bhagwan Dada - who in his last days did not have a penny . No body helped him. He used to be a hero. Amitabh bachhan copied his way of dancing. I would say Bollywood does not care for the loosers.

Posted by: Rajeev Kapoor, Australia, 27-01-2005 at 1011 hours IST


• grievience...

May her soul rest in peace.It is a tragic end as no one was near her when she breathed her last.The film industry is once again proved they are heartless,they don't have the decency to atleast pay their last respects and participate in her last journey--it is most unfortunate. What is wrong with you people , Amitabh in particular, you don't forget the days when you were in hospital(COOLIE episode) and only prayers saved you from clutches of death,i think you are not what you pretend to be on the screen--shame on you amitabh and all idiots of film industry, I once again pray god that no human-being should get such a death where no one is nearby when you leave this world- May her soul rest in peace.

Posted by: A.Sudershan Kumar, India, 27-01-2005 at 0921 hours IST


• Do we lack humanity

It was sad to read about the recent death of Parveen Babi and the proceedings after that. I would like to mention just one point here, I don't to blame any individual or a group for not showing respect to a departed soul but would like to tell everyone that we show sympathy to others not for the sake of humanity or loving him or even just he is another being of our kind but for personal gains, when recent deaths in Tsunami tragedy occured everyone stood up raised voice or wanted to be heard because that gave him publicity but now when another human died who was our neighbour we did not turn out to help her, can we call ourselves humans. Think about it people

Posted by: macal, Kuwait, 27-01-2005 at 0726 hours IST


• diptosh majumdar

congratulations diptosh! . you can see from the comments by your readers that a huge majority of people were quite up front with their comments about this subject. do you think anybody in bollywood cares about these thoughts from meenu and monu and the rest of us?. perhaps not.

Posted by: sal, Canada, 27-01-2005 at 0649 hours IST


• She was feared, avoided or mocked by her lovers, friends and whole Ballywood

She was linked to Kabir Bedi & Mahesh Bhatt. Bhatt even made Arth on his relationship with Praveen Babi. She later filed cases against several people, including Sanjay Dutt, saying she had evidence to prove his involvement in the 1993 bomb blasts.

Slowly everyone close to her started alienating away from her. They were unable to understand mentally ill Praveen Baby. The alienation, isolation, and depression she felt as a result of these attitudes become secondary symptoms of the illness and make her life more panic.She isolated herself from the world because Ballywood and her other world also isolated her.

When Someone mentally ill, You Love, your moral duty is to be a friend or lover more meaningful to save the life of your beloved.

In order to have compassion for people with mental illness, we must understand that they are suffering from symptoms or experiences that are largely beyond..."  Rebecca Woolis

Three priests tried to take dead body & said: She was baptised on June 21, 1997, and would attend prayers often. Karnatak CM Adharm Singh climbed on the Benny s stage. Time might come, when Benny claim: Karnatak CM was Christian.

mailto:comindia2004@epatra.com

Posted by: premendra agrwal, India, 27-01-2005 at 0544 hours IST


• MGOD give serenity and peace to Parveen's Soul !

God give serenity and peace to her soul!.

It appears that Ms. Parveen Babi was innocent, unselfish and decent human being. Lots of people must have taken advantage of her innocence. They must have spent wonderful time in her presence. But, her very few friends and relatives came to attend her funeral. Why didn t they approach her before her death when she was staying alone with problems? Why didn't her Bollywood contemporaries didn t go and find out what's wrong with her (that goes to Mr.Bhatt, Kabir Bedi, Danny and BIG Bull shit Bachchan). These jokers have ample money but no decency, no emotions and no basis courtesy. It shows the true nature and color of these individuals


Posted by: Abhay, United States, 27-01-2005 at 0521 hours IST


• Babi's death

I fully endorse Mr. Wilfred's comments. Most Bollywood personalities are the biggest hypocrites existing on earth who manipulate people and media for their personal selfish and shallow gains. Shame on you sick lot!!. Whats the point of doing "goody two shoe" roles when in reality you are something else. Bollywood personalities are going out to help tsunami victims, what about looking in your own backyard, morons!

May God bless Babi's soul.

Posted by: Kailash, Australia, 27-01-2005 at 0520 hours IST


• indian film industries

Shame on bollywood and mr Amit gi

Posted by: Roger Paga, United States, 27-01-2005 at 0358 hours IST


• Disgusting Bolly wood has lost its charisma on Pravin Babi's Death

Its very disgrace ful that Bollywood heroes and heroens could not spare time to attaned her funeral But more disgusting is even after 3 days of her death those Bid stars have not even expressed their condolences......... Its all syndicatism & groupismin industry that decides even which deaths are to be attended or addressed

Posted by: Kirit, India, 27-01-2005 at 0323 hours IST


• you are more beautiful in my eyes

Parveen,
After I learned that you were suffering from mental illness, I can really feel your painful life. That makes you even more beautiful in my eyes.

Now you are in a place where it is always peaceful .

Posted by: Rakesh, United States, 27-01-2005 at 0305 hours IST


• Parveen Babi

Afterall the bollywood fraternity dont belong to the crow family. Whereas the death of a crow would make the entire group of crows mourn for the death of a member in the family, not even one bollywood artiste was there to mourn the sad demise of a fellow artiste Parveen Babi. Hypocrites....aren't they. While one group was more interested in finding out if Parveen was a Muslim or a Christian, the bollywood members were not even there to mourn Parveen's death.

And may her apartment which is now sealed by the police be turned into a museum in memory of the late parveen babi.

May her soul rest in peace.

And let us all learn lessons from her great life.

Posted by: ram, India, 27-01-2005 at 0219 hours IST


• Parveen Babi

It is asad commentary on Bollywood's sucking up to the "mutual interests".
One is apalled at the shocking behaviour of its super ego star Bachan for such an insulting treatment of his eight times co-star. Babi was significantly instrumental in making those movies , he acted in, hits and some, like AAA, megahits. Bachan is what he is today to due some extent to Parveen Babi's performances in those movies.

As for the rest of the B'wood crowd, the less said the better. A good many of them will go all the way to the Gulf to pay homage and entertain the Indian mafiosis, but had no time or inclination to go a few miles and pay homage to one of their own fraternity.

I am ashamed of B'wood for their vested interests, cronism, egos, kissing up to crooks and criminals, and looking down on those of their own who were on the life's receding line.

May her soul rest in peace!

Posted by: Priyakant, United States, 27-01-2005 at 0140 hours IST


• Babi

The death of Parveen shows how shallow the Bollywood Industry is. It is nothing but plastic and plays with the minds of millions for their personal gains.

Posted by: Davinder , United States, 27-01-2005 at 0024 hours IST


• Amitabh is a criminal

There will be no smoke without a fire, Amitabh must have done some harm to Parveen otherwise why will she blame him instead of blaming Mahesh bhat or someother with whom she had a turbulent affair.

Posted by: Ahhishek B, Bolivia, 27-01-2005 at 0018 hours IST


• Amitabh ji, you've done yourself and your family a great dishonour!!

Some 33 years back (circa 1973), I'd the opportunity of accidently running into Mr. & Mrs. Bachchan in Piccadily Circus (West End) in London, England. We spent a good part of that day sightseeing and chatting off course. From our conversations, I got the impression that both he (Amitabh ji) and his wife (Jaya) were persons of character, honour, and integrity. And off course, after his accident during filiming of "coolie", the whole nation (India) stopped and prayed for his quick recovery. Whatever personal stuff that may have transpired between him and Ms. Parveen Babi during the last 8 odd years or so, these petty squabbles should have set aside after her demise. I'm having second thoughts about this man's character, integrity and humility. For someone like Mr. Bhachan stature and caliber to carry-on with petty grudges is to show the whole world that he doesn't have any personal regards for friends and co-stars alike. This is a very selfish attitude. Shame on both of you: Mr. & Mrs. Bhachan for not having a big heart to forgive. Words cannot fathom nor express the depth of your complete disregard for human life!

Posted by: Aly Kanji, United Kingdom, 26-01-2005 at 2348 hours IST


• Parveen Babi

Yes, it is a shame for the Industry to do a "NO SHOW" in this loss, but is also a shame to the "Indiankind" to openly show such act of no or silence remorse. Afterall, she did perform in several best movies people will remember for years.

Posted by: Dilip, United States, 26-01-2005 at 2237 hours IST


• Parveen Babi

Kudos to the one who wrote the article "Parveen Babi was buried without a murmur".

Sad indeed, that no one from Bollywood paid their last respects to Parveen Babi. May God rest her soul and may HE grant her a place in HIS paradise.

Posted by: antonio rebello, Kuwait, 26-01-2005 at 2117 hours IST


• parveen

Shame on u Mr. Amitabh

Posted by: Fan, United States, 26-01-2005 at 2049 hours IST


• Parveen Babi

It is unfortunate that Amitabh has been unable to be graceful to Parveen in her death. He could have showed the industry a path towards humility and respect. Good that Parveen is now gone and will be able to rest in peace away from this hypocrisy.

Posted by: Rachna, France, 26-01-2005 at 1854 hours IST


• Bollywood still lives by cliches,hates tragic endings

Bollywood is full of men and women who are venal and represent the mirror image of Indian politicians.The industry fawns those who are successfull but when one of its own artistes is down in the dumps,neither the film media nor its representatives spare a thought for the person.The industry is well known for physically and mentally abusing newcomers particularly females and I wonder how many more Parveen Babis may be in the midst of the cesspool of this FILTHY FILM INDUSTRY.

Posted by: G.Sriniwasan, Australia, 26-01-2005 at 1630 hours IST


• Parveen

Sorry Wilfred, I cannot accept the way you have potrayed Bollywood. As per your words 'Selfish, Self-Centered, Self-Seeking Bollywood'. Yes Parveen did not deserve the way she was, but how many of the bollywood stars were given this kind of treatment? and why Parween was treated so? This has a lot of facts which we cannot know from here. The good deeds of bollywood are more than if u compare to these kind of happenings. Pls. let us see ourselves first how many good deeds we do before fingering to a conglomerate org. like this. take care

Posted by: Sunita, Kuwait, 26-01-2005 at 1519 hours IST


Lone Journey

I was distraught and could not believe that Ms.Parveen Babi, a great actress from the past had no "So called Stars" from the Bollywood to attend her last journey. At least Mahesh Bhatt ji who makes some really good movies had the sense of responsibility and courage to be with his friend at this time. I believe it is a basic courtesy that one deserves at this moment in time, no matter what happened in the past. Life is too short for such petty bickering and I feel that Ms.Babi has been let down very badly by her filmi world which rightly said is only make believe. I think she would have seen the reality from heaven and atleast that would have given her peace of mind that she lived for herself and never dependent on any one.
My heart goes out for her and I hope there are millions who think alike.
I have lost all the respect I had for the big names in bollywood for insulting and deserting one of their colleagues.
My admiration for Mahesh Bhatt ji who stood by her and accepted to all possible during her last journey.
anil.

Posted by: anil vakkalanka, United Kingdom, 26-01-2005 at 1346 hours IST


• Parveen Babi and Amitabh Bacchan

After doing some research I found couple of things with Parveen babi's life style. It seems to me that she was innocent and honest kind of women. She had fallen in love with Kabir Bedi, Mahesh Bhatt, Danny and Amitabh. Eash relation caused her emotional scar and bruished her from inside. The last relationship with Amitabh (that you will not find anywhere as Amitabh loving press will not publish) totally finished her from emotional point of view. She was deeply in love with Amitabh. They had affair for 2-3 years or more. All these affairs gave her mental problem and no one was there to support her. The last affair with Amitabh was brutal to her and finished her completly off. Amitabh is a calculated businessman/actor. He did not go there as press will show him as her last lover. Time will come in future when people will come with the story of real Amitabh.

Just by naming the film city as Bollywood one cannot compare with Hollywood. These people are shallow . This is the same Amitabh who long time back told that I WILL NOT DO ANY TV SHOW. Look what happened this TV saved him. YES HE IS GOOD ACTOR BUT HE IS NOT A GOOD HUMAN BEING.

Posted by: Jack , United States, 26-01-2005 at 1343 hours IST


• parveen

I expected Mr. Amitabh to pay last visit to parveen's body. It was shocking to see that none of the big stars who worked with parveen were present. I have seen Amar Akbar Anthon many times and the couple in that movie amitabh and parveen was mind blowing. May parveens soul rest in peace.

Posted by: Sunny, Saudi Arabia, 26-01-2005 at 1147 hours IST


• Parveen Babi

Parveen Babi was an icon at a time when I was an impressionable teenager. She embodied everything that we giggly school girls fantasied about. I followed her life story with interest and was always sad that she could not be happier than she was during her last fifteen years or so.
Bollywood is avidly followed in Pakistan. The fact that today's stars and especially Amitabh Bachchan could not be bothered to pay a tribute or attend her last rites is distressing. It's sad when heros fall from grace and Mr Bachchan has just been toppled over with a thud. So much for standing by your parivaar!
May god bless your soul, Parveen Babi. You live on in our hearts and minds.

Posted by: Fareshteh, Pakistan, 26-01-2005 at 1133 hours IST


• Shameful Bollywood...

It’s a very Shameful to Hindi Movie Industry... Nothing more than that…

GODBLESS Praveen's Soul...


Posted by: Anand Tirumala, United States, 26-01-2005 at 1122 hours IST


• Selfish, Self-Centered, Self-Seeking Bollywood

I do not know why we watch these Bollywood films. These are the most selfish people you see on earth. Projecting human values in hypocrisy. Nobody had the guts to help Ms Babi for fear of being embroiled with controversies. True they are forgotten lot once off screen - every single one of them. Very few of them have any personal integrity. Sick lot.

Posted by: Wilfred B, Kuwait, 26-01-2005 at 1109 hours IST


• REEL PEOPLE

The behaviour of FILM industry proves that it is full of REEL PEOPLE and devoid of REAL PEOPLE barring some exceptions and REEL people can shine only in FILMS based on efforts of hundreds of people and Technology .

Posted by: Atma Gandhi, Singapore, 26-01-2005 at 0929 hours IST


• Unforgivable actors and actresses

I would strongly recommend all the Bollywood actors and actresses to watch Beautiful Mind. I am sure most would have watched. Unfortunately as they still have to project their images as being strong, glamorous, full of life and fun, they tend to forget their basic human values. I am amazed at the turnover at Late Amrish Puri's funeral and none of them at Parveen's funeral. How can these actors and actresses continue to act wherein they show extreme sympathy in movies and accepting diseases like AIDS, Cancer, blindness, Mental retardation, infertility etc and be indifferent to real life problems and still continue to carryon and exhibit social stigma in real life? It is ironic how they dance and play cricket to help tsunami victims, yet comfortably forget about their own brothers and sisters, who unfortunately had Schizophrenia. Keep in mind that Schizophrenia affects 1 % of population and is like other diseases for example Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart attacks, Stroke. Hopefully somebody responds to my message and I shall be glad and happy to share my ideas. God bless Parveen's soul!!!

Posted by: SP, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0928 hours IST


• Praveen Babi deserved last respects

Bollywood actors, actresses and directors should feel ashamed of not paying last respect to Praveen babi. Their respect should be to the person who gave so much to the industry not to the person who was living isolated life in her last days. Shameful.

Posted by: rahul, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0824 hours IST


• Bollywood still lives by cliches

I totally agree with Mr. Kumar's remarks. Parveen may not have the blessings of industry heavy weights, but she certainly deserves respect as a fellow human being.

Posted by: Ravi, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0739 hours IST


• parveen the beauty

parveen you left so many indian crying and what a tragic end of a great life. may your soul rest in peace and give courage to all your fan family, that is in million. you wiill live forever and will always be missed.

iqbal gill

Posted by: iqbal s gill, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0714 hours IST


• cliches?

i find it mind boggling that there is such a lack of maturity in the people of bollywood. its surprising that mental health is such a taboo in india. you know thats the difference between the holywood and ballywood establishments , the people in hollywood care alot more for their fellow actors no matter what the reason.

Posted by: sal, Canada, 26-01-2005 at 0644 hours IST


• Diptosh Majumdar

Excellently written and expressed, Diptosh! I could have never put it better, having known Parveen for a long, eventful decade. I am a Jesuit Priest, a professional psychologist and professor at St. Xavier's College, when Parveen was a young student, during the difficult ages of 17-20. I was in touch and always contacted and consulted by her during my 8 years of professor at XLRI Business School in Jamshedpur. We used to meet every year in Bombay, and I spent a whole day with her in Bombay, watching the shooting of SHAAN, having lunch on site and dinner at her Juhu home, with her mother and Mahesh Bhatt respecting our privacy, at Parveen's own request. She had a lot to share, and I had much to learn about her past and immediate future. Diptosh has really
touched, very intuitively, only the substance of Parveen's unique relationship qith the Bollywood culture.
Parveen was different, unique and
not easy to understand and appreciate.
Her beauty was unquestionable. Her
life-style could be questoned, but not her honesty and sincerity. She was
socially "kidnapped" into a world and
career she never chose herself, and
an emotional problem Bollywood created.

Posted by: Joseph A Arroyo S.J., United States, 26-01-2005 at 0602 hours IST


• Shame on you Bollywood stars

I respected you, and loved you soo much Mr.Banchan, but this episode, has changed my mind totally for you, you act and show that you are a great personality in front of all those INDIAN CINEMA-VIEWERS, including us who stay outside of India, but towards the end you showed your own true colour, you and the great Bollywood personalities are nothing but full of deep-minded brutal prejudiced guys.
Shame on you Mr.Amitabh, since she being your early co-star you could have atleast paid your last respects to her. You are totally a failure in my eyes now. Nomore can I respect you.

Posted by: Sneha, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0602 hours IST


• I have objection to some words

Mr. Diptosh Majumdar,
I have objection to you writing 'She opened a major door in an industry replete with Sitas, satis and savitris'. I agree with your article but it was written in a manner which can hurt feelings of a lot of people.

Posted by: bharat bhushan, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0300 hours IST


• Parveen will always be alive

Praveen represent paradigm shift in Inidan cinema. It was she who brought Indian Heroine into limelight. She was ahead of her time. An icon of femenine beauty and strength. She was also an insignia of romanticism. A personality of her stature who is beyond death.Loss of her material body is sad but she will remain alive , through her work and through her persona.
Its good in one sense that many film personalities did not turn up for her funeral , as Parveen was one who was not a hypocrite. For her silver screen was only an medium to convey her personality. No one could match her romanticism with reality.Her induldence with cinema and life was not very different.Her colleagues left her because they were hauted by inferiority complex. Parveen would not have cared , as she was alone before her death and she went to grave alone , peacefully , she came with a bang but when she left us , there was only sound of silence , which she would have liked. I think Indians could decifer her body but they what they missed on her was her beautiful mind. She was a genius. Rest in peace Babi.

Posted by: R M Vikas, India, 26-01-2005 at 0228 hours IST


• Parvin Babi

I agree with the Sr. Editor's article on how Bollywood alienated Parvin Babi when she needed it's support in the darkest moments of her life and thereafter. It's nothing but hypocrisy and that's what is all about BOLLYWOOD- a big SHAM community

Posted by: AKapoor, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0156 hours IST


• Parveen Babi's death

I saw an interview of Robert Downey Jr on the Oprah show. Now Robert Jr has had very public displays of drug afflicted behaviour and all of them in the public eye. Yet the Hollywood film personalities have stood by him, put him in rehab and even after a jail sentence accepted him back in their fold and given another chances. What Parveen Babi had in comparision was a mental disease (out of her control , a disease of her mind just like people have of their bodies-heart, liver)supposedly ,but not a single soul stood by her from the Bollywood film industry. I think it is not only shameful but something I regard as callous and downright outrageous . Maybe they were all scared of standing in her corner in life and indeed death in case it upset the bigwigs, who had enjoyed her company in glory but forsaken her in illness, were offended.

Posted by: Dr Sabina Sidhu, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0148 hours IST


• Babi

mental illness has always been a taboo in India. maybe babi's death will bring some awareness

Posted by: Rehana, Australia, 26-01-2005 at 0145 hours IST


• Bollywood is full of disgusting people

Praveen Babi was diagnosed with an illess which has diagnones. Unfortunately, in india it is still considered stigma to have mental disease. Film industry is full of hypprocites. It missed an opportunity to raise awareness of this disease among masses and help thousands of people who have this disease.
They will go where whole world is going like in Tsunami disaster. But their true colors are shown in tragedy's of Praveen Babi. People riding expensive cars, living in expensive houses, wearing expensive clothes can not be called 'educated'. Bollywood is a reflection of uneducated indian society.

Posted by: Meenu, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0110 hours IST


• Bollywood 's heartless atitude.

Here it (Bollywood)has shown its true colours(use and throw away) in the case of the death of an actress, who changed the cource of Indian cinema, especially the monotonous, idealistic and impractical roles wich are forcefully offered to the vulnerable actress. I dont think those persons as human beings who are not moved by the death of this versatile actress.

Posted by: Upender, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0107 hours IST


• sad to she her die

bunch of moron's , selfish people. Bollywood folk seem to have lost all the elements of human ness. Shame on you guies.

Posted by: Ranjan, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0100 hours IST


• HYPOCRITS

Totally shameful, that few had the guts, the decency and the humanity to bid farewell to their friend, colleague, and companion. Girls aspiring to join the film industry should realise that the industry uses you, sbuses you and then thrashes you. Plaese stay away from this worls of hypocrisy

Posted by: Asha R, United States, 26-01-2005 at 0041 hours IST


• Shame on Bollywood

Shame on entire so-called ‘Bollywood’. Shame for having abandoned one of the brightest stars that shone on the Hindi Cinema screen. Shame for not being there for a sick member - specially when she needed it most , when she had no one left to call her own. Great words have flowed in the ‘mighty’ dialogues of the industry, but no great deed seems to have ever been done. We’ll miss you, dear Parveen. We’ll love you always , and we’ll let you give us smiles from those golden performances. Wish you get true love in the next life.

Posted by: Monu, United States, 25-01-2005 at 2339 hours IST


• it is sad

Dost Dost Na raha. No one was there for Parveen Babi. Same applies to all schizophrenic persons in India. This country still shuns mental patients. It is sad. Hope people will be able to see ‘beautiful mind.’

Posted by: Kumar , India, 25-01-2005 at 1919 hours IST

I read some where that the Bhatts are making a movie about the life of Parveen Babi - any news?

Ali

(Thinking back on it) I agree that it's fucked up the way the Indian film industry basically ignored Parveen Babi's death. At least Amitabh Bachchan said some words in one interview, but I did expect him to come out and say more. She was a trend-setting, incredibly popular actress of her time, runing neck-in-neck with Zeenat Aman. Really, she was the Aishwarya Rai of her day. Sure, she didn't "die famous," but that doesn't mean that she should have died the way she did. Though she hadn't acted for the last many years of her life, I'll miss her anyway, just the idea of her.

Parveen Babi was always my favourite heroine since I was 5 years. I always thought I will grow up and marry her. Her amazing confidence on screen comes across as unpretentious and genuine. Very few actresses can do that. Will miss her alot.