The Damsel That Was-Parveen Babi

She was found dead in her apartment on 22 January 2005. Although her physical death was a result of gangrene and diabetes, she had died from the public mind, decades ago.

It is rumoured that Bhatts films Arth and Woh Lamhe were inspired by his off-screen romance with Parveen Babi.

Rumour mills claim that Parveens mental disorder was due to her alcoholism which resulted out of her failed relationships with dashing actors-cum-villains Danny Denzongpa, Kabir Bedi and director Mahesh Bhatt. She is also rumoured to have had an affair with Amitabh Bachchan, her co-star of many films. Driven by her irrational thinking, she later on accused senior Bachchan of trying to kill her.

She was suspected at John F. Kennedy International Airport after she failed to submit her identification papers and as she behaved to be difficult, the authorities handcuffed her and kept her in a general ward with thirty other mentally disturbed patients.

Parveen Babi suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. Its a disease that slowly and gradually disintegrated her personality and life. She made an unceremonious exit from films in 1983.

Parveen was considered to be one of the most successful actresses of her era, alongwith Hema Malini, Rekha, Zeenat Aman, Jaya Bhaduri, Reena Roy and Raakhee. She starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan in eight films, all of which were either hits or super hits. Her memorable roles include Jenny in Amar Akbar Anthony, Sunita in Shaan and Anita in Deewaar.

Throughout her career, she was thought of more as a glamorous heroine than a serious actress. She was also known as a fashion icon. Famous designer Manish Malhotra says, "Parveen Babi brought minimalism into fashion. She was always impeccable, not overdoing it even once."

She was the first Bollywood star to appear on the front page of the Time magazine in July 1976.

Her modelling career began in 1972 and was quickly followed by her film debut with Charitra -1973 opposite cricketer Salim Durani. Her first major hit was Majboor -1974 opposite Amitabh Bachchan alongwith Zeenat Aman.

Parveen had a troubled childhood. A traumatic incident where her school nuns kept her hidden under a heap of mattresses during the Ahmedabad riots disturbed her deeply. The fear that hit Parveens mind that she was killed during the incident continued to haunt her throughout her life.

Parveen was born fourteen years after the marriage of her parents and was their only child. She lost her father at the age of ten.

Parveen Babi was not your quintessential Indian heroine of the 1970s and 80s. She was Indias answer to Marilyn Monroe. With a well-sculpted physique and chiseled features, Parveen was a siren who would set the hearts of men ablaze. But that did not deny her the accolades for her acting mettle. In her days, she was one of the few actresses who could juggle between her movies and modelling assignments. But then, tragedy struck and the big bad world of glamour and glitz came down hard on her. Depression, alcoholism and a broken heart ripped her career apart leading to loneliness and eventually death. As 4th April 2016, marks the actress 67th birth anniversary, Team PRC unearths the highs and lows about The Damsel That Was.