Post the release of WOH LAMHE based on Parveen Babi's life, Mahesh Bhatt talks to Vickey Lalwani on his real life love affair with one of the biggest sex symbols of yesteryears

How did you get the news of Parveen Babi's death?
I was coming back from Hyderabad and on landing, saw that my f***ing phone had several missed calls. When I called back, a media person greeted me from the other end and asked if I had learnt the news. Worse still, that man wanted a sound byte. The end of the woman you loved and lost was as simple as that!

Then what happened?
I came back from the morgue and asked Soni (Razdan) if she could get me a pen and paper. She was puzzled. I told her that I wanted to dictate a few lines. I gave vent to my emotions. Someone called and Soni told him that she was writing something for me on Parveen. That person was shocked. As far as I am concerned, I have nothing to hide. If you asked me whether I would have made this film if Parveen had been alive, the answer is that I am not ashamed to own up anything in life. I will not hide anything from anybody.

You have shown Kangana committing suicide, but Parveen didn't commit suicide?
Her death was nothing short of a suicide. Suicide is not just hanging one's self. Suicide is also complete withdrawal and blocking all external contacts and assistance.

What drew Parveen to you?
What struck her was the fact that I never treated her as a diva, while the industry was ready to eat from her hand. I did not treat her like a diva. I was not impressed by her so-called stardom. I thought she had a mask on her face and she was hiding herself behind those praises. I used to tell her that she was nothing but a lie.

Are you taking WOH LAMHE to Pakistan?
Yes. Singer Jawad Khan who is responsible for the song 'Tere Bina Kya Jina' will do the needful. I am confident that WOH LAMHE will have a theatrical release in Pakistan. Jawad has very warm, social and emotional ties with the President Musharaff and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Azmi who recognize and applaud his contribution not only as an actor but also as a person who has his heart in the right place and is concerned for his countrymen.

How did Jawad come into the picture?
Pakistani director Javed Fazil who is a friend of mine introduced me to Jawad in Sun n Sand. He sang the song for me. I was so deeply moved by his lyrics and singing, that I immediately thought that I will keep this song in the film which I am planning to make on Parveen Babi.

Do you think that the industry was unfair to Parveen?
Yes, the industry refused to understand her ailment. They had lots of money riding on her. She was doing top-notch films of several bigwigs. They wanted her to finish their projects even if that meant that she had to take electric shocks. Hence, I ran away with her to the South. I could not bear to see her being electrocuted. There, I nursed her. But still there were many difficult moments- like she felt that our room was bugged. I begged her to understand and told her that I couldn't take it anymore.

Shiney blasts Kangana's mom at the hospital over her electro-therapy treatment. Were you harsh on Parveen's mom?
Yes, we did have a strong argument. Parveen was reeling under schizophrenia. There was big money riding on her. Some producers were putting pressure on her psychiatrist to produce quick results. The psychiatrist contemplated giving her electric shocks, perhaps siding with those forces. Her mother had her back to the wall, and she caved in. But I didn't want it that way.