Parveen Babi was one of Bollywood’s most beloved icons. She was not only instrumental in changing the idea of the ‘Indian Heroine’ along with contemporary actor Zeenat Aman, but she also was a fashion icon who served looks that are still emulated today!
However, why is it that when you Google this legendary actor, most of the articles that come up talk only about her mental illness and her descent out of stardom?
Image credit: Hirawat Jain & Co
We as a country need to stop using the word ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘tragic’ when describing Parveen Babi and take some time to celebrate the highs of this actor’s career! Let us start using the words ‘wonderful,’ ‘gorgeous,’ and ‘superstar’ again!
Parveen Babi was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which triggered a systematic disintegration of her personality and life. Karishma Upadhyay, her biographer, said, “It’s possible for someone to be young, successful, and living a seemingly perfect life, yet suffer from mental illness. It is possible for someone to look ‘perfect’ and still be suffering within.”
Image Credit: Hirawat Jain & Co
In her book Parveen Babi: A Life, Karishma Upadhyay goes into the gritty details of the star’s life. However, the book is not only about Parveen Babi’s low moments. It is also a snapshot of her flying high through the skies of Bollywood.
While the book talks about her mental health, it does not take away from her capabilities as an actor and performer. This is the important part about remembering someone who has suffered mental illnesses.
You have to remember them at their best and not sensationalise their mental state.
Image Credit: BCCL
Living as a star already comes with a lot of exposure to the public. Being in cinema exposes you to the cutthroat paparazzi, the rabid fans, and a life which does not allow for privacy.
The sensationalizing of mental illnesses for celebs just means that they can never truly recuperate or pay attention to their mental health because of the constant surveillance and scrutiny.
However, this is not to say that we should not be talking about mental illnesses or ignoring artists’ and actors’ mental health.
Image Credit: Eros International
The conversation about mental health is critical and oftentimes, connecting these conversations with popular celebrities makes it easier for the common folk to imbibe good mental health practices.
But if we bring up Parveen Babi only when we talk about schizophrenia, it is an insult to her memory. She was a gorgeous woman with oodles of strength, talent, and charisma. Sadly over time, she has been reduced to the overdone and overused trope of the crazy woman.
People only like to talk about her string of failed relationships or her substance abuse, trying to piece together the evidence of her fall into madness. In this pursuit, they have forgotten to commemorate her as the artist she was.
After all, how many people remember that Parveen Babi became the first Indian actor to be featured on the cover of TIME magazine in 1976, a mere three years after her debut? She was only 27-years-old at the time!
Image Credit: Time Magazine
Like any other human being, Parveen Babi was a complex and complicated woman, and reducing her to a single point in her rich and interesting life is doing a disservice to her!
It is time that when we remember Parveen Babi, we remember her happiness, her victories, her amazing performances, her iconic clothes, her jaw-dropping makeup looks, and her bohemian vibe that made everyone fall in love with her.
Let us remember Parveen Babi as Jenny in Amar Akbar Anthony and Nisha in Namak Halal. Let us remember her as a brilliant actor who served us looks and skill. It is time that when we remember Parveen Babi, we learn how to not talk about mental health incorrectly.
Social and lead image credit: Hirawat Jain & Co and BCCL
