Persis Khambatta

Biography

Persis Khambatta was an Indian actress and model who won the Femina Miss India title in 1965 before building a screen career in both Bollywood and Hollywood. Born in Bombay, she first drew attention when photographs of her were used in a soap advertising campaign, which led to steady modeling work and then to her Bollywood debut in Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein (1968) as a cabaret singer. She had small parts in Conduct Unbecoming (1975) and The Wilby Conspiracy (1975) before landing the role she stayed best known for, the bald Deltan navigator Lieutenant Ilia in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), a performance that brought her a Saturn Award nomination for best actress. She was the first Indian citizen to present at the Academy Awards, in 1980, and later appeared in Nighthawks (1981) and Megaforce (1982). She took television guest roles as well and wrote Pride of India, published in 1997.

49years old at death

Born October 2, 1948Mumbai
Died August 18, 1998Mumbai
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22

Movie Career

Films: 5
Career span: 7 years1975 to 1982

Every film, newest first

1982MegaforceIMDb rating 3.7
1981NighthawksIMDb rating 6.3
1979Star Trek: The Motion PictureIMDb rating 6.4
1975Conduct UnbecomingIMDb rating 6.6
1975The Wilby ConspiracyIMDb rating 6.4

Genres

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Khambatta was in the running for the title part in the James Bond movie Octopussy, from 1983, yet Maud Adams got the role instead.
Getting ready for a role
Khambatta shaved her head to play the bald Deltan navigator Lieutenant Ilia in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and was originally signed for five years because a new Star Trek television series was planned.
First role
In 1968, Khambatta played cabaret singer Lily in Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein, the Bollywood film directed by K. A. Abbas, and she performed its title track.
Behind the camera
In 1997, Khambatta wrote and published a coffee table book titled Pride of India, and it included several women who had previously won the Miss India title.