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Before actors like Irrfan Khan and Priyanka Chopra made a name for themselves in Hollywood, Persis Khambatta — a middle-class girl from Mumbai — had already achieved what many could only dream of. She became one of the earliest and most well-known Indian success stories in Hollywood, breaking stereotypes and paving the way for future generations of actors. Persis is still remembered for her iconic portrayal of Lieutenant Ilia in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. But to truly understand her impact, one must begin with her childhood.
Persis Khambatta was born into a middle-class Parsi family in Mumbai. Her early life was marked by struggle, as her father left the family when she was just two years old. She attended St. Joseph’s Convent High School and later enrolled at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. However, she dropped out during her first year to pursue modelling full-time. This turning point came in 1968, when, at just 13, she was discovered by a photographer while dining with her family at a restaurant. He took her test shots, which ended up being used in an advertising campaign for Rexona soap. The success of that campaign marked the beginning of her modelling career.
Persis Khambatta went on to win the Miss India title in 1965, impressing everyone despite wearing off-the-rack clothes she had bought herself. She became the second winner of the Femina Miss India pageant and the third Indian woman ever to participate in Miss Universe. After her win, her modelling career flourished, and she worked with major brands such as Air India, Revlon, and Garden Vareli.
It wasn’t long before Bollywood came calling. Khambatta made her acting debut with Pinjre Ke Panchhi, starring alongside Meena Kumari and Mehmood. She went on to appear in films like Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein and Kamasutra – Vollendung der Liebe. However, her ambitions soon outgrew the confines of the Hindi film industry.
Persis Khambatta had bigger dreams and famously called herself “a big fish in a small pond.” Speaking to the Hollywood Foreign Press, she said, “I was very fortunate. I had done so much modelling in India, but I was like a big fish in a small pond and I wanted to try somewhere else, to be known internationally, to feel inside me that I was good and I would make it abroad, so I decided to go to London.”
Her first role in an international film came with Ralph Nelson’s British adventure thriller The Wilby Conspiracy (1975), starring Michael Caine, Sidney Poitier, and Nicol Williamson, in which she played a small role as a dentist. She followed this with another small role in Conduct Unbecoming (1975), alongside Michael York and Richard Attenborough.
According to the Golden Globes website, Persis Khambatta faced a major setback when her portfolio was stolen by two Indian actors during a flight back from India. “I knew that that would stop my career and I would have to start all over again. But if this didn’t happen, I would have never really taken acting seriously.” Determined to rebuild her career, she moved to Los Angeles — a decision that changed her life forever.
In 1979, Persis landed the groundbreaking role of Lieutenant Ilia in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The role defined her career, and she made history by doing something almost unheard of at the time — she shaved her head for the part. She was chosen for the role from a pool of 600 hopefuls. “I was brought to Hollywood by Gene Roddenberry and Michael Eisner, chosen from 600 hopefuls to star in the original Star Trek motion picture. The success of the film, coupled with the allure that I had shaved my head for the role, put a spotlight on me,” she told Los Angeles Times.
The success of Star Trek put Persis Khambatta firmly in the Hollywood spotlight, but it didn’t immediately translate into major lead roles. At a time when actors from diverse backgrounds were still struggling to make a mark, Persis too faced the challenge of breaking through Hollywood’s glass ceiling. “Everyone told me to stay in Hollywood. This was the place, they said, and I could have a big career. What they failed to mention was that no one would quite know what to do with me,” she said in an interview.
Despite these challenges, Persis became the first Indian citizen to present an Academy Award in 1980 — a historic moment in itself. Actor Kabir Bedi once told The Print, “Star Trek was a success. She was recognised, admired. But she didn’t manage to land any substantial roles after that. And I was sad about that. Because that’s the reality of trying to act in a different country.”
After Star Trek, Persis appeared in smaller roles in films such as Nighthawks, Megaforce, Warrior of the Lost World, and on popular TV shows like MacGyver. She was even considered for the role of a Bond girl in Octopussy (1983), but ultimately lost the part to Maud Adams.
Persis Khambatta’s later years were marked by health struggles. A chain smoker, she was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 34 and was given just three months to live — but she defied the odds and lived another 15 years. Tragically, while visiting India in 1998, Persis suffered a massive heart attack and passed away.
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