According to reports, Arbab had signed a contract with Googoosh, requiring her to perform at his Bacara Cabaret. However, this contract became a point of contention when Googoosh’s then-husband, Mahmoud Ghorbani, opened his own cabaret, the Miami Cabaret. Ghorbani, a powerful figure in his own right, established Miami Cabaret in an effort to escape Arbab’s control, with the venue located near Sai Park, where the current Simorgh Hotel stands.
The clash between Arbab and Ghorbani set the stage for a dramatic power struggle, and Googoosh found herself caught in the middle. Under the terms of her contract, Googoosh was required to perform at Bacara, but Ghorbani insisted that she perform at his Miami Cabaret instead. This contractual dispute quickly escalated, with financial stakes running high.
At the heart of the conflict was three million tomans, which Arbab had paid to Googoosh as a pre-contract fee. Googoosh, unable to repay the money, was now under immense pressure. The situation became so tense that Ghorbani and Googoosh fled Iran for Europe in 1350 (1971) to escape Arbab’s legal actions. This trip, which was originally intended as a vacation, soon turned into an extended stay as the couple sought to avoid further legal and financial repercussions.
A Mysterious Death: The End of Arbab’s Empire
As tensions mounted and legal battles ensued, the story took an even darker turn. In 1351 (1972), Karim Arbab suffered a sudden and suspicious stroke, which led to his death at the age of 44. His untimely passing raised numerous questions, with some speculating that foul play might have been involved. Arbab’s death brought an end to the legal battles, allowing both Googoosh and Jamila, another famous dancer, to finally breathe a sigh of relief.