The Babbar family has been making headlines with ongoing controversy surrounding actor Prateik Babbar and his father, veteran actor-politician Raj Babbar. Speculation about a rift intensified when Prateik did not invite his father to his wedding with Priya Banerjee. Adding fuel to the fire, Prateik changed his surname to ‘Prateik Smita Patil,’ opting to honor his late mother, renowned actress Smita Patil, instead of carrying his father’s name.
Prateik Babbar on changing his name
In a recent interview with The Times of India, Prateik confirmed his decision, saying, “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.”
Aarya Babbar reacts to Prateik’s decision
Prateik’s half-brother, actor Aarya Babbar, has now responded to the controversy. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Aarya said, “I just have to say that Smita ma is our mother too. And what name he doesn’t want to keep and what name he wants to keep is his choice.”
Elaborating further, Aarya added, “Kal ko main uthke apna naam Aarya Babbar se Aarya karlun, ya Rajesh kar lun. Main tab bhi Babbar hi rahunga na (Tomorrow, if I wake up and change my name from Aarya Babbar to just Aarya, or even Rajesh, I’ll still be a Babbar, won’t I?).”
He further emphasized, “Aap apna name change kar sakte ho, wajood nahi (You can change your name, but you can’t change your identity). Rahunga toh Babbar hi becasue wajood mera woh hi hai, aap woh kaise change kar sakte ho (I’ll remain a Babbar because my existence is rooted in that, how can you change that?).”
Family feud or personal choice?
Prateik Babbar’s decision to drop his father’s surname and take on his mother’s has sparked debate among fans and the film fraternity. While some see it as a heartfelt tribute to Smita Patil, others believe it reflects an underlying estrangement with Raj Babbar.
