Shabana Azmi opens up about Parveen Babi’s mental health battles: 'She would eat two grapes and say I'm bursting'

Shabana Azmi remembers Parveen Babi

Shabana Azmi, a veteran actress, recently talked about her experiences working with Parveen Babi, one of Bollywood's most famous but misunderstood characters from the 1970s and 1980s. In a moving interview with Filmfare on their YouTube channel, Azmi provided unique insight into the mental health issues that beset Parveen behind the spotlight.

Azmi recalled a particularly disturbing moment from the sets of Jwalamukhi, directed by Prakash Mehra. “I saw Parveen Babi going mad in front of my eyes," she recounted with visible emotion. “We were on set, and she suddenly looked up at the chandelier and screamed, ‘This chandelier is going to fall on me.’” The moment marked one of the early signs of Parveen’s mental health deteriorating.

Another worrying incident took place during the filming of Ashanti, where Parveen's behaviour became a matter of concern for the crew. “She was eating very little. She would eat two grapes and say, ‘I’m bursting.’ There were these moments where you could sense something wasn’t quite right,” Azmi said.

Azmi further reflected on an eerie encounter during a makeup session involving Zeenat Aman. “She looked at her in a very strange kind of manner,” she noted, indicating the growing signs of psychological distress.

Despite working in an industry brimming with fame and facade, the 70s offered no real space for conversations around mental health. “We never talked about it,” Azmi admitted. “She was always speaking about esoteric things, discussing books… She was in pursuit of an intellect that didn’t come easily to her—but she was trying, and she was clearly struggling.”

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In 1973, the same year Azmi and Ankur entered Charitra, Parveen Babi made her film debut. She quickly became a superstar and was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1976. Sadly, her illness—later identified as paranoid schizophrenia—went undiagnosed during her lifetime, and she spent a large portion of her life alone.

Now starring in Netflix's Dabba Cartel, Azmi remains a revered voice in Indian cinema, renowned for her advocacy and skill, illuminating deeply personal and significant tales.