Persis Khambatta was an Indian actress, model, and beauty pageant winner, born on October 2, 1948, in Bombay, India. She first gained recognition when she won Femina Miss India in 1965, becoming one of the earliest Indian representatives at Miss Universe. Her success in modeling led to a career in acting, both in Bollywood and Hollywood.

     Khambatta made her film debut in Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein (1968) and later appeared in international productions such as Conduct Unbecoming (1975) and The Wilby Conspiracy (1975). However, she is best remembered for her role as Lieutenant Ilia in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). Her character, a Deltan navigator, was a pivotal figure in the film, and Khambatta famously shaved her head for the role. She was originally signed for a five-year contract, as the film was initially planned as a television series, but the project was reworked into a feature film instead.

     Following Star Trek, she appeared in Nighthawks (1981), Megaforce (1982), and Warrior of the Lost World (1983). She was briefly considered for the title role in the James Bond film Octopussy (1983) but was ultimately passed over. In 1980, she became the first Indian citizen to present an Academy Award.

     Khambatta suffered a serious car accident in the early 1980s, which led to heart bypass surgery. Later in life, she wrote and published Pride of India, a book celebrating former Miss India winners, dedicating it to Mother Teresa. She passed away on August 18, 1998, at the age of 49, due to a heart attack.