“That Family Was Never There”: Prateik Babbar Embraces Smita Patil’s Legacy, Drops ‘Babbar’ Surname

After a quiet wedding with Priya Banerjee, Prateik Babbar breaks his silence on distancing from father Raj Babbar and reclaims his identity as Prateik Smita Patil.

March 23, 2025: Mumbai: Actor Prateik Babbar has officially changed his name to Prateik Smita Patil, honouring his late mother and legendary actress Smita Patil, while distancing himself from the Babbar surname and its associations. His move comes in the wake of his recent wedding to longtime partner and actor Priya Banerjee, held on February 14 in an intimate ceremony at Smita Patil’s Bandra home.

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What grabbed public attention more than the celebration, however, was the absence of Prateik’s father, actor-politician Raj Babbar, and the rest of the Babbar family. While social media buzzed with speculation, the newlyweds remained quiet — until now.

In an interview with The Times of India, Priya Banerjee firmly defended her husband, saying, “That family was never there. That person (Raj Babbar) was never there in his life. So I don’t understand why this question is being asked 30 years later.”

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She added that their silence is a matter of “respect and dignity”, and clarified that Prateik’s decision not to invite the Babbars wasn’t driven by malice but rooted in personal truth.

💬 “I Need to Be Solely Associated with My Mother”

Speaking about his name change, Prateik explained that taking on his mother’s name fully is about emotional authenticity and legacy — not PR strategy.
“I’m not thinking about my career or repercussions. I only care about what makes my soul feel at peace. I want to be solely associated with my mother, her name, and her legacy. I’m striving to be like her — not my dad,” he said.

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Prateik lost his mother Smita Patil when he was just two weeks old. Over the years, he has often spoken about feeling a deep, spiritual connection with her.

🧡 “When the Time Is Right, I Will Talk”

While Prateik refrained from diving into details about his estranged relationship with Raj Babbar, he did acknowledge the situation is “extremely complicated”.
“When I am ready to speak about the things I haven’t spoken about yet, it’ll clear the air — not just for me, but for everyone,” he said.

💍 About the Wedding

Prateik and Priya Banerjee, who went public with their relationship in 2023, were married in a private ceremony surrounded by close friends and loved ones. Their wedding photos, posted on Instagram with the caption “I’ll marry you in every lifetime #priyaKAprateik”, exuded warmth and intimacy.

This marks Prateik’s second marriage. He was earlier married to Sanya Sagar, with whom he finalized a divorce in 2023.

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