'Following the star?': Kabir Bedi recalls Gina Lollobrigida insulted Parveen Babi, she replied: 'I have a man'

Kabir Bedi recently opened up about a painful incident involving Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida and the late Bollywood star Parveen Babi, revealing how Gina openly insulted Parveen during a dinner party. The incident highlighted the difficult dynamics Parveen faced in her personal and professional life, compounded by her struggles with mental health and insecurities about her career. Kabir described the moment as a clear display of disrespect toward Parveen, which he refused to tolerate, standing firmly by her side.

The relationship between Kabir Bedi and Parveen Babi began after Kabir separated from his then-wife Protima Gauri, and Parveen’s previous relationship with actor Danny Denzongpa had ended. Kabir recalled how during their time together, he became aware of Parveen’s mental health challenges. He wanted to help her get the treatment she needed, especially when they moved to London. However, Parveen was reluctant to seek professional help due to her fear that revealing her condition would jeopardize her career.

Kabir shared during a recent conversation with Siddharth Kannan, “Her biggest fear was that if people got to know about her mental instability in the industry, they won’t give her work. When I left India to go to London, Praveen had also accompanied me. In London, I had a home and I wanted to start my life again with her there. I wanted her to sort treatment there, but she didn’t want any doctor to know about her condition.”

Kabir was building a successful international career at the time, becoming widely known in Europe for his role as Sandokan. He hoped Parveen would leave the Indian film industry behind and join him abroad, where she could focus on healing and starting afresh. But Parveen chose to return to India as her film Amar Akbar Anthony had become a massive hit, opening doors for her again in Bollywood. Kabir acknowledged that Parveen struggled with insecurities about their differing levels of fame, saying, “This is true because she was the bigger star in India and I was the star in Europe. People were not giving her the respect that she was getting in India.”

The tension between the two worlds of Kabir and Parveen became glaringly obvious during an event hosted by Gina Lollobrigida. Kabir recalled that although Gina welcomed them and introduced Parveen to her friends, she largely ignored her throughout the evening, focusing her attention only on Kabir. Kabir hoped things might improve during a private dinner that followed. At the dinner, Gina invited Kabir to dance, and while Kabir was pleased to share the dance floor with a celebrated actor like Gina, he noticed Parveen’s discomfort.

The situation escalated when Gina made a harsh comment to Parveen after the dance. Kabir recounted, “After we came back to the table, Gina spoke to Parveen saying, ‘What are you doing here? Following the star?’ She insulted Parveen and before I could even say anything, Parveen responded, ‘No my dear. I am here with my man because I have a man.’ Gina was single at that time.”

What are you doing here? Following the star?’ She insulted Parveen and before I could even say anything, Parveen responded, ‘No my dear. I am here with my man because I have a man.’ Gina was single at that time.

- Kabir Bedi

Parveen’s sharp retort reflected her dignity and strength in the face of Gina’s dismissiveness. The evening ended with Parveen deciding to leave the dinner party. Kabir described the difficult position he found himself in: he could not abandon the party hosted by Gina, yet he did not want Parveen to leave alone. Ultimately, he chose to leave with her, firmly stating, “Gina insulted my woman and I could not accept that.”

This episode reveals the many challenges Parveen Babi faced beyond the glitz of stardom, including stigma around mental health, professional insecurity, and difficult social interactions. Kabir’s recollections also highlight the loyalty and care he showed during their relationship, standing up for her when she was disrespected.

Their story is a poignant reminder of the personal struggles that many actors endure behind the scenes and the importance of support in difficult times. Kabir’s words offer a glimpse into the complex life of Parveen Babi, a talented actress whose journey was marred by challenges yet marked by moments of courage and resilience.