Mahesh Bhatt Opens Up on Parveen Babi’s Tragic Final Days: “Watched Her Slowly Slip Away”

Legendary filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt recently opened up about one of the most heart-wrenching chapters of his life — witnessing the decline of yesteryear Bollywood superstar Parveen Babi. Once a glamorous and fearless face of the silver screen, Parveen’s later years were marked by loneliness, paranoia, and a silent battle with mental illness.

Bhatt, who had a deeply emotional relationship with Parveen in the 70s and 80s, revealed that he saw her slowly transition from a confident celebrity into a deeply troubled and frightened woman. Speaking about her mental health struggles, he recalled, “She was a glamorous and balanced individual when I met her. But gradually, I saw her become anxious, scared, and mentally unstable. It was heartbreaking.”

A Love Story Shadowed by Mental Illness

During the height of her fame, Parveen Babi worked in blockbuster hits like Deewaar, Shaan, Amar Akbar Anthony, Kaalia, and Namak Halaal. However, at the peak of her stardom, she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia — a severe mental illness that had very little awareness and treatment options in India at the time.

Bhatt revealed that their breakup was largely triggered by her deteriorating mental health. “Fame became her prison,” he said in a conversation with Himanshu Mehta. “Everyone around her wanted her to quit the industry, to avoid the pressure that was worsening her condition. But for Parveen, fame was something she couldn’t give up. Behind her smile, there was deep anxiety and fear.”

“She Was Not What the World Saw”

Despite her image as a glamorous diva, Bhatt remembered Parveen as a simple girl from Junagadh, Gujarat. “She was very grounded in reality,” he shared. “She loved cooking, oiling her hair, and doing things that brought her joy outside the spotlight. The woman the world knew was very different from who she was inside.”

In an older interview with BBC Hindi, Bhatt spoke candidly about one particularly disturbing memory. “I came home one evening and found her shaking in fear, hiding in a corner of the room,” he said. “She thought someone was out to harm her. That was when I realized the seriousness of her illness.”

A Tragic Goodbye

Despite his attempts to support and help her heal, Bhatt admitted that their relationship couldn’t survive the storm. “I tried to hold her, to fix what was broken, but some stories don’t get happy endings,” he said somberly.

Parveen eventually withdrew from the film industry and lived in complete isolation. In 2005, her lifeless body was found in her Mumbai apartment — a tragic end for someone who once captivated millions with her beauty and charisma.

Legacy of a Lost Star

Parveen Babi remains a poignant symbol of how mental health issues can be devastating when left untreated — even for the most successful and celebrated individuals. Bhatt’s reflection brings to light not just a personal grief but also the need for society to better understand and support mental health.

Even in her darkest times, Parveen’s legacy as a bold, pioneering actress who challenged norms and redefined beauty in Bollywood lives on. Her story continues to inspire conversations around mental health, fame, and the fragile human condition hidden behind stardom’s dazzling façade.