Mahesh Bhatt reveals how the doctor blamed him for Parveen Babi’s illness

NEW DELHI, June 15 (Online): Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has openly discussed his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Parveen Babi. Recently, the ‘Sadak’ director recounted how he became involved in her struggle with mental illness and how a doctor advised him to leave her for her own well-being.

Mahesh Bhatt reveals how the doctor blamed him for Parveen Babi’s illness
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has openly discussed his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Parveen Babi. Recently, the ‘Sadak’ director recounted how he became involved in her struggle with mental illness and how a doctor advised him to leave her for her own well-being.
In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, director Mahesh Bhatt shared that he did not meet Parveen Babi after they parted ways in the 1980s because he believed he was a part of her illness.

He explained that during one of her breakdowns, his friend Yugi, who had been very supportive, advised him that Babi was unfit for the industry and that he was like gunpowder to her fire. Yugi suggested that if Bhatt truly loved her, he should leave her.
Bhatt added that he attempted to take her away and help her heal, but his efforts were unsuccessful. He noted that Babi returned and that people often fail to understand the cyclic nature of her mental disorder, which made it difficult to sustain a career in such a competitive and unforgiving industry.
Mahesh Bhatt reflected on how Parveen Babi seemed compliant because she couldn’t fully understand her situation. He empathized with why people might take extreme measures, seeking normalcy in their lives and quick solutions to the nightmare of living with someone struggling with such issues.

Bhatt expressed his opposition to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), despite its endorsement by the medical community. Disagreeing with this approach, he took Babi to Bangalore with the help of his friend Yuji, who then advised him that he was part of the problem and needed to distance himself from her life. Yuji later took her to Switzerland, where she improved for a while.
Mahesh Bhatt also revealed that Parveen Babi’s condition had a

genetic component. Reflecting on the past, he noted that there had been signs of her struggles. He mentioned that Kabir, while working on a book, shared an experience where Babi had shown similar symptoms during their relationship in Italy.
Bhatt explained that Babi was genetically predisposed to her condition, which she had managed to suppress for a time.