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.
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.
