Mahesh Bhatt recalls Parveen Babi's haunting words 'darr lagta hai': 'What happened to her was an unimaginable tragedy'
Mahesh Bhatt
has once again reflected on his deeply personal and painful chapter with
Parveen Babi
, the late actress who was once at the peak of stardom but struggled silently with her mental health. In a recent interview, Bhatt recounted her final years, shedding light on the emotional turmoil she faced behind the glitz and glamour of showbiz—and how her inner fears ultimately consumed her.
A Tragic Decline Amid the Spotlight
During his appearance on The Himanshu Mehta Show, Bhatt spoke about Parveen's final years, calling her decline a heartbreaking tragedy. He shared that although many around her tried to help her step away from the intense pressures of the film industry due to her mental health struggles, she found it difficult to let go of the fame and attention. According to Bhatt, her condition required her to distance herself from the spotlight, but the emotional pull of stardom made that nearly impossible.
The Woman Behind the Glamour
The filmmaker recalled how, despite the glamorous image Parveen projected to the world, she was deeply vulnerable and lived with a constant sense of fear. He shared that beneath the polished, superstar persona was a simple woman from Junagadh, Gujarat—someone who found joy in everyday things like cooking at home and oiling her hair. Her outward style may have reflected stardom, but her true self was far removed from the glitter of the film industry.
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Witnessing Her Breakdown Firsthand
In an earlier conversation with BBC News Hindi, Mahesh Bhatt opened up about witnessing Parveen Babi's mental health struggles firsthand. He recalled watching her transition from a poised, glamorous star to someone gripped by paranoia and fear. He described returning home one evening to find her visibly shaken and hiding in a corner, convinced that someone was out to harm her. According to him, she was suffering from schizophrenia—an ordeal he experienced closely as she gradually unraveled.
Mahesh Bhatt revealed he tried his best to help Parveen Babi through her mental health struggles, but their relationship ended painfully. She passed away in 2005.
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Economic Times
27 minutes ago
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Synopsis Parveen Babi and Mahesh Bhatt shared a troubled romance. Parveen battled mental health issues amidst stardom. Bhatt recalls her struggle with fame's allure. He describes her simple nature behind the glamorous facade. He recounts her emotional episodes and paranoia. Their relationship ended painfully. Parveen Babi died in 2005, leaving behind a complex legacy. Agencies Parveen Babi's Tragic Struggles: Mahesh Bhatt Reflects on Her Final Years In the 1970s, actress Parveen Babi shared a romantic relationship with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Their bond, however, unfolded under a shadow of deep emotional unrest. At the time, mental health awareness in India was minimal, and though Parveen displayed signs of psychological distress, she was never medically diagnosed. Mahesh Bhatt has since revisited those turbulent memories, revealing the heartbreaking decline he witnessed in her later years. He described her descent as an overwhelming and painful transformation, one that spiraled beyond control. According to Bhatt, despite the clear signs of mental health deterioration, Parveen was unable to detach from the demanding world of showbiz. Speaking during his appearance on The Himanshu Mehta Show , Mahesh Bhatt disclosed that shortly before the interview, he had been penning down thoughts about Parveen's final descent into what he termed a complete mental breakdown. He explained that numerous attempts were made to dissuade her from returning to the hyper-competitive world of films after her breakdown. Bhatt believed that given her mental vulnerability, she should have stepped away for her own well-being. However, the magnetic pull of fame, the adoration, and the spotlight had become a drug too potent for her to abandon. According to Bhatt, once someone experiences the euphoria of stardom, retreating from it becomes near impossible. Her persistence to remain in the public eye, despite her fragile mental state, led to an emotional collapse that he described as tragically unfathomable." All attempts were made to make her see that once she had that kind of breakdown, there's no way she should try and fit herself back into this fiercely competitive space. She should have withdrawn, as she had a physiological vulnerability. But I think once you have tasted this business, the high of the arc lights, it's very difficult to turn your back on it. But what happened to her was an unimaginable tragedy," he reminisced. Though the world saw a dazzling diva adorned in designer wear and exuding confidence, Bhatt shared that behind her glamorous persona, Parveen was deeply rooted in simplicity. According to him, she was a modest woman from Junagadh, Gujarat, who cherished quiet domestic joys—like oiling her hair or cooking at home. The glamorous image she projected on screen and at public events was merely a façade. Beneath it all, she longed for a life of peace and intimacy, not glitz and an earlier conversation with BBC News Hindi , Bhatt revealed witnessing Parveen suffer from severe emotional episodes. He remembered seeing her leave for shoots in the morning, only to return hours later trembling in fear, whispering delusions about imagined threats. According to him, she had schizophrenia—a condition that left her in constant fear and confusion."I saw her go through her collapse. I went through it with her. And when you see someone breaking down in front of you… I saw her leave in the morning for her shoot with her makeup on. But when I came back in the evening, she was shivering and sitting in a corner like an animal. She kept saying, 'Someone is going to kill me.' She was suffering from schizophrenia,' he said. He tried his best to support her, but the mental strain was immense. When their relationship ended, it did so painfully, leaving emotional scars. Parveen Babi passed away in 2005, leaving behind a legacy of brilliance haunted by inner Bhatt made two films based on his time with Parveen Babi. One was the 1982 drama film 'Arth,' which featured late actress Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. The second was the 2006 movie 'Woh Lamhe.' Although the film was directed by Mohit Suri, Bhatt wrote and produced it. Starring Kangana Ranaut and Shiney Ahuja, the film narrated the doomed love story between a struggling filmmaker named Aditya and a superstar, Sana Azim, who is battling her own demons.
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32 minutes ago
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Last Updated: According to reports, Mahesh and Parveen dated for nearly three years. Mahesh Bhatt has often spoken about his relationship with the late actress Parveen Babi. Parveen Babi was battling undiagnosed mental disorders in the 1970s. Mahesh Bhatt dated Parveen while he was already married to Kiran Bhatt. In a recent chat, the filmmaker opened up about the actress's 'spiral into madness'. During an appearance on The Himanshu Mehta Show, he said, 'Prior to coming to this interview, I was writing about her final spiralling into what is called madness. All attempts were made to make her see that once she had that kind of breakdown, there's no way she should try and fit herself back into this fiercely competitive space." He added, 'She should have withdrawn, as she had a physiological vulnerability. But I think once you have tasted this business, the high of the arc lights, it's very difficult to turn your back on it. But what happened to her was an unimaginable tragedy." Mahesh also recalled Parveen's words: 'Darr lagta hai (I feel scared)." He said, 'Behind closed doors, she was a simple woman from Junagadh, Gujarat, who wanted to put oil in her head and cook food at home. But the clothes she used to wear were very glamorous, so that she looked like a superstar. But on the inside, she was a simple girl." Previously, in a chat with BBC Hindi, Mahesh said, 'I saw her go through her collapse. I went through it with her. And when you see someone breaking down in front of you… I saw her leave in the morning for her shoot with her make-up on, but when I came back in the evening, she was shivering and sitting in a corner like an animal. She kept saying, 'Someone is going to kill me.' She was suffering from schizophrenia." The filmmaker said that the relationship ended on a painful note. He mentioned that while he tried to help Parveen, 'such kind of diseases take a toll". The filmmaker said that Parveen was nearly 26 years old when they started dating, and her condition was already severe. However, the actress started feeling better after meeting UG Krishnamurti, who told Mahesh, 'He told me that it is impossible for you to stay together because you will never leave movies and if she keeps doing movies, she will be destroyed." Mahesh and Parveen dated for nearly three years. Parveen Babi passed away on 20 January 2005, at 55. She died in her apartment in Mumbai. An autopsy stated that she died from organ failure and diabetes. DISCLAIMER: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata). First Published: July 28, 2025, 09:50 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
