In fact, I did the maximum number of films with Parveen after Jaya, followed by Raakhee and Rekha.
I had forgotten a lot of these films until the press reminded me of them after her death. And then I thought, ‘Gosh, so many films with Parveen Babi!' Most of my films with her were superbly successful. The audience liked us as a pair.
She brought in a new bohemian kind of leading lady to the Indian screen. We'd work on all these films and go our own way. But because we belonged to the same social circle we'd often visit each other, listen to music...
She was a very fun-loving, light-hearted person — always full of joie de vivre. She was always great fun to be with and never interfered with anyone's work. On the sets you barely knew she was around. She completely minded her own business. What happened to her is really sad. I feel very bad for her.
We all belonged to one big group — Romesh Sharma, Danny Denzongpa, Reena Roy, Smita Patil, Javed Saab, Parveen. When I had my accident they all would come to see me every single day. It was so nice of them. One never forgets the people who stick close to you at times of crises.
I used to be very depressed at that point of time. In 1983 I took Parveen out for her first live show. And then suddenly she just disappeared. I don't really know what happened. It wouldn't be ethical to talk about her condition.
The nature of her illness was such that she was terrified of people. She wanted to be left alone. She deliberately distanced herself from everyone.
We felt by associating ourselves with her we were causing her more grief.
Did she make a difference to Hindi cinema? Oh certainly! She was one of the first Indians to be featured on the
cover of Time magazine.She was very meticulous about her career. She had a very efficient management system. Her secretary and managers were very efficient.
She lived all on her own and was very self-dependent. I sincerely feel she was a very genuine very honest and down-to-earth person, very loving and caring. And that's how I'd like to remember her.
