Prateik Babbar and Priya Banerjee’s wedding, held in February 2025, was meant to be a joyful occasion marking the couple’s union. However, it was clouded by a series of controversies that sparked considerable public debate. The most notable controversy surrounding the wedding was the absence of Prateik’s father, Raj Babbar, and the Babbar family from the celebrations. Additionally, Prateik’s decision to drop the ‘Babbar’ surname in favor of adopting his late mother Smita Patil’s legacy, calling himself Prateik Smita Patil, stirred up further attention.
The decision to not invite Raj Babbar to the wedding led to significant backlash from his side of the family. Aarya Babbar, Prateik’s step-brother, was the first to publicly express his disappointment. He shared his confusion over Prateik’s decision, implying that external influences had led to the estrangement, and suggested that Prateik had made the choice not to invite the Babbar family on his own. Aarya even went so far as to accuse Prateik of disrespecting his late mother, Smita Patil, by not including Raj in the wedding.
Priya emphasized that the decision not to invite Raj Babbar was not made lightly and was not something they wished to discuss in detail. She explained that they had made their choices based on their personal experiences and that they didn’t feel the need to justify their actions to others. Priya made it clear that Prateik’s relationship with his father had been strained for years and that there was never any significant family connection. She added that she found it unfair that Prateik was being blamed for the situation, particularly as he had already been through much emotional turmoil in his life, losing his mother at a young age.
Priya also defended her role in the decision, dismissing insinuations that she had influenced Prateik’s decision to cut ties with the Babbar family. She remarked that it was common for a woman to be unfairly blamed when things go wrong, but she was unbothered by such claims. Prateik himself refrained from delving into the specifics of his strained relationship with his father but reiterated that there would be a time for him to address the situation when he felt it was right.
Prateik’s decision to change his name and drop the ‘Babbar’ surname was another point of contention. In the interview, Prateik explained that his choice was deeply personal. He expressed that he wanted to be associated solely with his mother’s legacy, as she had been the central figure in his life, while his father’s influence had been limited. He mentioned that he was not concerned about the potential repercussions of his decision on his career or public image, emphasizing that his peace of mind and emotional well-being were his primary concerns.
Raj Babbar and his family, especially Aarya and Juuhi Babbar, have made it clear that they feel hurt by Prateik’s choices. Aarya, in particular, criticized the situation, suggesting that someone close to Prateik was manipulating him into distancing himself from the family. Juhi Babbar, Raj’s daughter, also expressed her concerns, indicating that Prateik was surrounded by people who might have influenced him in ways that weren’t in his best interest.
Despite the public drama and the family fallout, Prateik and Priya have remained firm in their decisions. Priya pointed out that they had their closest loved ones around them during their wedding and were unfazed by the online backlash. Prateik echoed her sentiment, indicating that the decision to move forward in life on their terms was what mattered most.
The wedding saga of Prateik Smita Patil and Priya Banerjee serves as a reminder of the complexities of family dynamics and how personal choices can sometimes become public spectacles. For Prateik, the wedding may have been about forging his own identity, one that honors the legacy of his mother while navigating the fraught relationship with his father.
