Mahesh Bhatt says Parveen Babi was a 'simple' Junagadh girl behind close doors: 'But clothes she used to..'

Nearly two decades after her tragic passing, Parveen Babi’s life continues to stir reflection — not just for her legacy as a Bollywood icon, but for the silent battles she faced away from the spotlight. The actress was found dead in her Mumbai apartment in 2005 at the age of 50, alone and isolated. While public conversations often circled around her mental health, many questions about her final years have remained unanswered.

Appearing on The Himanshu Mehta Show podcast, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who shared a close bond with Parveen during the peak of her career, recently revisited memories of her final days. Contrary to popular belief, he clarified that she was never given a formal medical diagnosis.

Opening up about the side of Parveen few ever saw, Bhatt described a woman far removed from the dazzling image she carried on screen. “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.”

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.

- Mahesh Bhatt

On the same podcast, the filmmaker also spoke about the actress not withdrawing herself from the showbiz and said, ''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 She should have withdrawn, as she had a physiological vulnerability.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.''

Parveen Babi was one of the first actresses to break the mould in the Hindi film industry — bold, stylish, and ahead of her time. But as Bhatt’s words suggest, the glitz may have masked a quieter truth. Beneath the sequins and stardom was someone yearning for a normal life, away from cameras, controversies, and constant scrutiny.

Her story remains one of both brilliance and heartbreak — a reminder of how fame often comes at a personal cost.