Prateik Smita Patil Explains Why Raj Babbar Wasn’t Invited To His Wedding: ‘Sorry, But It Was The Right Decision’

Prateik Babbar addressed the sensitive family dynamic that led to the exclusion of his father and half-siblings from his wedding, which took place at his late mother Smita Patil’s home in Mumbai.

Prateik Smita Patil shares reason for not inviting father Raj Babbar to his wedding.

Source : Instagram

Earlier this year, actor Prateik Smita Patil tied the knot with actress Priya Banerjee in an intimate ceremony on February 14. However, the wedding drew attention not just for its private nature but because Prateik’s father, veteran actor and politician Raj Babbar, and the rest of the Babbar family were notably absent.

Now, Prateik has spoken publicly about the decision, offering both an explanation and an apology.

Prateik reveals why he didn’t invite Raj Babbar

In an interview with Zoom, Prateik addressed the sensitive family dynamic that led to the exclusion of his father and half-siblings from the wedding, which took place at his late mother Smita Patil’s home in Mumbai.

Prateik clarified that the decision wasn’t rooted in animosity or estrangement but was made out of respect for his mother. “My father's wife and my mother had some complications in the past, lots of things have been said in the press and stuff like that if you dig out 38-40 years ago. I was open to doing something with my father and his family for another function. I just thought it was unethical to have him and his family at that house when after everything had went on between them."

He added, "Absolutely, it wasn't right. The right thing to do was to what we did and then if, obviously now circumstances are different, everything is gone South and it's extremely complicated. But it's not for me. I'm still the same."

He went on to say, “It wasn’t about rejecting anyone. It was about respecting my mother and her wishes... I'm sorry my father and his wife could not be there, could not be in the house my mother bought for me to grow up and live a life as a single mother. She wanted to live in that house with me as a single mother. Bring me up. I'm sorry."

He concluded by saying, "That was the best decision my wife and I made. And it could have been very, very subtle scenario and everything could have been subtle. But people are impulsive, people make impulsive choices and say things out of impulse and it was just distasteful and I think that bitter taste has remained."

What we know about the Babbar family feud

The family tensions became publicly evident when Prateik married Priya without inviting Raj Babbar or his children from his first marriage—Juhi Babbar and Arya Babbar. Raj married Nadira Babbar in 1975 and had two children with her. In the early 1980s, he was romantically involved with iconic actress Smita Patil, whom he married in 1983. Their son, Prateik, was born in 1986, but tragedy struck when Smita died shortly after childbirth. Raj later reunited with Nadira.

Prateik has since distanced himself from his father’s legacy. In a candid interview with The Times of India earlier this year, he revealed his name change to “Prateik Smita Patil”.

He said, “I don't care about the repercussions. All I care about is the way I feel when I hear that name. I need to be wholly and solely associated with my mother (Smita Patil), her name and her legacy. I don't think any other name needs to taint that legacy, if you understand what I mean. It needs to just be her name and her legacy. That's what I'm striving to be. I'm striving to be like my mother and not like my dad.”