Jahanvi's claim reminds of Parveen Babi's allegations

Bhopal, Apr 20 (UNI) Model Jahanvi Kapoor's allegations of having intimate relationship with Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan rekindles the memory of similar allegations levelled against his father and megastar Amitabh Bachchan by late actress Parveen Babi, who reportedly suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.

Jahanvi's allegations came on the eve of Abhishek's wedding to actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai.

At present, no comments could be made on the mental condition of Jahanvi, but psychiatrists believe that she could be suffering from Erotomania, also called de Clerambault's syndrome.

Psychiatrist R N Sahu, who is the Head of psychiatry department at the Hamidia Hospital, told UNI that a person suffering from Erotomania held a delusional belief that another person, usually of a higher social status, had a relationship with him.

A similar incident was reported in the life of Hollywood actress Jodie Foster and former US President Ronald Reagan.

Dr Sahu said an Erotomania patient behaved normally except that he felt that he had a relationship with a person of higher social status.

The disease can be cured and the patient should not be left alone, as he could attempt to take his own or someone else's life.

The episode reminds of the allegations levelled by Praveen Babi, when she returned from Europe after nearly a decade in 2000, that Amitabh Bachchan had tried to kill her.

However, her allegations did not get legal and social weight due to her mental condition.

She had even claimed that she had significant evidence regarding the 1993 Mumbai blasts. However, she failed to depose before the court for recording her statement citing danger to her life as the reason.

Jahanvi had alleged that the Junior Bachchan had promised to marry her. She attempted to commit suicide in front of Amitabh's residence 'Prateeksha' last night.

The model also held a press conference in Mumbai today where she repeated her charges against Abhishek.

So far, the matter appears to be either a case of an attempt to create sensation or the result of a mental disorder.

UNI