Mahesh Bhatt Didn’t Want Parveen Babi to Come Back to Films After Her Spiralling Mental Health
Mahesh Bhatt‘s relationship with Parveen Babi was one of the most talked-about events in the 70s. It began in 1977, and at that time, Babi was a top star in the industry while Bhatt was struggling as a filmmaker. The actress was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which affected her career and relationships severely. She passed away in 2005 at the age of 50.
Mahesh Bhatt has often spoken about his relationship with Babi and her mental health. Quite recently, the filmmaker opened up about it again and said that she should have quit films as she had a physiological vulnerability.
During his appearance on The Himanshu Mehta Show, Bhatt 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. She should have withdrawn, as she had a physiological vulnerability.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.”
Bhatt also added that while she looked glamorous, on the inside she was always a simple woman. “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.”
They dated for almost three years. Bhatt’s film Arth (1982) is said to be a semi-autobiographical film about his relationship with the late actress. Smita Patil‘s character in it was inspired by Babi.
Also Read: Mahesh Bhatt reveals how motherhood has changed Alia Bhatt’s entire persona. Read here
