Prateik Smita Patil who is Raj Babbar and the late Smita Patil’s son, has long shared a complicated equation with his father and extended family. After losing his mother shortly after birth, Prateik was raised by his maternal grandparents and has previously spoken openly about battling substance abuse and emotional struggles. While his bond with Raj improved over time, tensions have resurfaced in recent years — recently when Prateik married Priya Banerjee in 2025 and chose not to invite his father or members of Raj’s first family, including half-siblings Juhi and Aarya Babbar.Now, Aarya Babbar has opened up about the fractured family dynamic in a recent conversation. Seaking emotionally about Prateik, Aarya reflected on how relationships require care and patience. “We nurture some relationships with a lot of love because they are too delicate, so you care for them a lot,” he said in an interview with Vickey Lalwani. Aarya claimed that things began to change after Prateik’s divorce from his former wife, Sanya Sagar, was finalised. According to him, communication between them abruptly stopped despite repeated attempts to reconnect. “We didn’t understand when he suddenly stopped connecting with us as soon as his divorce with his ex-wife was sorted. I texted him, called him so many times, but no response,” he said.He also expressed frustration over how the family is often perceived publicly whenever Prateik faces personal struggles. “We become villains, and the world paints Prateik like a victim,” he said.Addressing speculation around whether there had been issues with Prateik’s wife Priya Banerjee, Aarya dismissed any previous conflict and said the families had spent quality time together in the past, including dinners and outings. He added that he had also tried reaching out to Priya but did not hear back.Aarya further accused Prateik of distancing himself from their father while still benefiting from his support during difficult phases. “It’s like when your career is not doing well, and you need pocket money from dad to survive, then he is your father. When you want to live in the house that your father bought for Smita maa, then he is your father. When you want all the benefits, then he is your father. But when you have to acknowledge him, and give him respect in front of society, then he is not your father. What is that? As an elder brother, I love him, but when he is wrong, he is wrong, and this is where he is wrong.”Raj Babbar’s personal life has often been under public scrutiny. He was married to Nadira Babbar and had children Juhi and Aarya when he fell in love with actor Smita Patil. Raj later moved in with Smita, and the two welcomed Prateik. However, tragedy struck soon after Prateik’s birth when Smita died due to childbirth complications. Raj eventually reunited with Nadira and their children, while Prateik grew up with his maternal grandparents.Reflecting on the emotional complexity of the situation, Aarya said, “It is so tragic that the Smita maa, for whom my father left his family, today that Smita maa’s son is not ready to acknowledge him as his father. What could be a bigger tragedy than that?”While speaking about Prateik’s actions, Aarya said he has often tried to give his brother the benefit of the doubt but believes accountability matters. “It is so tragic that the Smita maa, for whom my father left his family, today that Smita maa’s son is not ready to acknowledge him as his father. What could be a bigger tragedy than that?” he said, before adding, “I would always give Prateik a benefit of doubt that something might have happened, but at the same time, you are a 40-year-old man, and if a 40-year-old man can’t use his brain, then what do you do?”Despite the strained relationship, Aarya clarified that he would still stand by Prateik if needed. He admitted reconciliation may not restore things to how they once were, though he believes Raj and Juhi would welcome Prateik back warmly. “As an elder brother, I will be here for him, but if I am asked if I can embrace and love him the same way, then maybe not,” he said.Aarya also pointed to Prateik’s changing professional identity over the years as another sign of distance from the family. “This is not the first time that he has done it. When he started in the industry, his name was ‘Prateik Babbar’. Then he was ‘Prateik Smita’. Then he became ‘Prateik’. Then ‘Prateik Babbar’ again. And now, he is ‘Prateik Smita Patil’,” he said, before adding lightly, “Maybe some numerology thing is happening in his life. We don’t know that.” Go to Source
