The Star Trek Gandhi post inspired me to look into the other desi on Star Trek – Persis Khambatta.

Persis was a model from Bombay and somehow landed the role of Lt. Ilia in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Here’s the twist, Persis was a model from India with beautiful long locks and the role of Lt. Ilia required her to be completely bald. So did she somehow wear a wig or did she actually have to shave her head for this role?

In this behind the scenes footage for the movie, about the 6:00 minute mark, you will find the footage of the pain Persis had to go through to play this role. Remember this was the 70s and clean shaven domes for women were not in, yet, in the west or in India.

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