Prateik On Dad Raj Babbar’s Absence At Wedding: I Was Honoring Mom

Photo: Twitter

India-West News Desk

MUMBAI – Actor Prateik Babbar, son of late actress Smita Patil and veteran actor Raj Babbar, recently addressed the speculation surrounding his father’s absence from his wedding to Priya Banerjee, held on February 14. The intimate ceremony took place at Smita Patil’s former residence — a location that held deep emotional value for the actor.

In a candid conversation with Zoom, Prateik explained why he chose not to include Raj Babbar and his family in the wedding celebrations. “My father’s wife and my mother had some complications in the past,” Prateik said, alluding to longstanding tensions between Smita Patil and Nadira Babbar, Raj Babbar’s wife. “It just didn’t feel right having them at the house that my mother lived in and created a life for us in.”

He emphasized that the decision wasn’t about estrangement or animosity, but rather about honoring his mother’s legacy. “I was open to doing something with my father and his family separately,” Prateik added, suggesting he had considered involving them in a different celebration. “But for that day, in that space, it just wasn’t ethical.”

The absence of Raj Babbar and his family sparked widespread speculation about a rift. Addressing the chatter, Prateik clarified, “It wasn’t about rejecting anyone. It was about respecting my mother’s journey and her wishes. That house was her sanctuary. She brought me up there as a single mother. She earned it, she lived in it, and she loved it.”

While acknowledging that the situation has since become “extremely complicated,” Prateik maintained that his intentions remained unchanged. “People say things out of impulse. Some of it was distasteful. But my wife and I believe we made the best decision for us, and for my mother’s memory.”

Prateik was previously married to Sanya Sagar. The two parted ways in 2023, four years after their 2019 wedding. His marriage to Priya Banerjee was kept low-key and closely guarded, a reflection of his desire to keep personal milestones grounded in meaning rather than spectacle.

Raj Babbar, father to Prateik, is also the father of Arya and Juhi Babbar with Nadira Babbar.