Parveen Babi was an Indian actress, who is most remembered for her glamorous roles alongside top heroes of the 1970s and early 1980s in blockbusters like Deewar, Namak Halaal, Amar Akbar Anthony and Shaan.
Parveen was born in Junagadh, Gujarat in a Muslim family. She did her early schooling in Aurangabad and later attended St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad. Her father Vali Mohammed Babi, was an administrator with the Nawab of Junagadh. Parveen was born fourteen years after the marriage of her parents and was an only child. She lost her father at the age of seven.
Parveen never married but had relationships with many married men; director Mahesh Bhatt, actors Kabir Bedi, and Danny Denzongpa. She was also strongly rumoured to have had an affair with her co-star of many films, Amitabh Bachchan. Bhatt later wrote and directed Arth (1982), a semi-autobiographical film about his relationship with Babi, and wrote and produced Woh Lamhe (2006) based on actual facts about his relationship with her.
Parveen's modelling career began in 1972 and was quickly followed by her film debut with the film Charitra (1973) opposite cricketer Salim Durrani. The film was a resounding flop but Parveen was noticed and was snapped up for several more films. Her first major hit was Majboor (1974) opposite Amitabh Bachchan. Along with Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi helped change the image of the Indian film heroine. She was the first Indian actress to have been featured on TIME magazine's cover, in July 1976, much to the consternation of her contemporaries.
Parveen was considered to be one of the most successful actresses of her era. She appeared opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Deewaar (1975) Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Shaan (1980), Kaalia (1981), and Khud-daar (1982). She also appeared in other hit films such as Suhaag (1979 film) (1979), Kaala Patthar (1979), Namak Halaal (1982), Meri Aawaaz Suno (1981) and The Burning Train (1980)