Persis Khambatta

About Persis Khambatta

Who is it?: Actress, Model
Birth Day: October 02, 1948
Birth Place: Mumbai, India, Indian
Died On: 18 August 1998(1998-08-18) (aged 49)\nMumbai, Maharashtra, India
Birth Sign: Scorpio
Years active: 1968–1998
Title: Femina Miss India 1965
Spouse(s): Cliff Taylor (1981–1981) Naren Parekh (1986-?)
Major competition(s): Femina Miss India 1965 (Winner) (Miss Photogenic) Miss Universe 1965 (Unplaced)

Persis Khambatta Net Worth

Persis Khambatta was born on October 02, 1948 in Mumbai, India, Indian, is Actress, Model. Persis Khambatta was an Indian model-turned-actor whose journey from being a model to a famous Hollywood actor has been inspirational and motivating. Khambatta had just stepped into her teens when she was offered an advertisement for a soap brand. Prior to this, she had no experience whatsoever. Interestingly, Khambatta did not toil hard to get into modelling unlike other girls. In fact, modelling happened to her unexpectedly. Her photos clicked by a professional photographer sealed her fate in modelling. She soon bagged the coveted Femina Miss India title and represented her country at the Miss Universe pageant. Khambatta’s modelling paved way to a career in acting. Though she started as a Bollywood actor, the unprofessionalism that existed in the Hindi film industry at that time, led her to take up projects in Hollywood. Her big breakthrough came with her bald look in ‘Star Trek’ film. It helped her gain global prominence and distinction. Though Khambatta despised the lack of civic sense and professionalism of the Indian citizens in general, she returned to Mumbai as she loved the city. After coming back, she penned the book ‘Pride of Nation’, writing about former Miss India’s and other beauty pageants.
Persis Khambatta is a member of Models

💰Persis Khambatta Net worth: $1.3 Million

Some Persis Khambatta images

Biography/Timeline

1965

Khambatta's first appearance at age 13 in advertisements for the soap brand Rexona set her on her way to becoming a popular model. At age 17, as Femina Miss India, Khambatta entered Miss Universe 1965, dressed in off-the-rack clothes she bought at the last minute. She became a model for companies such as Air India, Revlon, and Garden Vareli.

1967

Khambatta made her Hollywood début in Director K. A. Abbas's Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein (1967), playing cabaret singer Lily who croons the film's title track. She had small roles in 1975's Conduct Unbecoming and The Wilby Conspiracy. She went on to have a brief movie career that included the role for which she is most recognized, the bald Deltan navigator Lieutenant Ilia, in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). She shaved her head for the role. She was originally signed to play the role for five years, as the intention was to create a new Star Trek TV series. Khambatta said that she was thrilled when the project became a movie instead, because it would have greater impact on her career, but she also recognised that she had lost five years' work. Khambatta became the first Indian citizen to present an Academy Award in 1980. She was nominated for Saturn Award for Best Actress for her role in Star Trek. This led to roles in Nighthawks (1981), Megaforce (1982), Warrior of the Lost World (1983), and Phoenix the Warrior (1988). She was considered for the title role in the James Bond film Octopussy (1983), but was passed over in favor of Maud Adams.

1980

Khambatta was seriously injured in a car crash in Germany in 1980, which left a huge scar on her head. In 1983, she underwent coronary bypass surgery. She returned to Bombay in 1985, and appeared in the Hindi television series Shingora opposite Aditya Pancholi and Marc Zuber. Soon after, Khambatta returned to Hollywood and performed in guest roles on various television series such as Mike Hammer and MacGyver. In 1997 she wrote and published a coffee table book, Pride of India, which featured several former Miss India winners. The book was dedicated to Mother Teresa, and part of the royalties went to the Missionaries of Charity. Her final appearance in an acting part was that of Chair of the Congress of Nations in the 1993 pilot episode of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

1981

She married Hollywood actor Cliff Taylor only weeks after meeting him in June 1981. Two months later they filed for divorce.

1998

In 1998, Khambatta was taken to the Marine Hospital in south Bombay, complaining of chest pains. She died of a massive heart attack on 18 August 1998 at the age of 49. Her funeral was held in Bombay the following day.