On February 14, 2025, Prateik Babbar tied the knot with Priya Banerjee in a quiet and deeply personal ceremony held at his late mother Smita Patil’s residence in Mumbai. The event, attended only by a close-knit circle of family and friends, was meant to be a heartfelt tribute as much as a celebration. Yet, the absence of some prominent names, specifically Raj Babbar, Arya Babbar, and Juhi Babbar, did not go unnoticed and soon sparked speculation online. Prateik has now addressed the matter and offered a candid explanation.
In a recent interview, the actor opened up about the decision not to invite his father Raj Babbar and his family, pointing to the sensitive history between the families. “My father’s wife (Nadira) and my mother (Smita Patil) 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,” he revealed.
He went on to clarify that the choice stemmed from a place of integrity and emotional alignment rather than hostility. “I just thought it was unethical to have him and his family at that house after everything had went on between them. Absolutely, it wasn’t right. The right thing to do was what we did, and then if, obviously, now circumstances are different, everything has gone South, and it’s extremely complicated. But it’s not for me. I’m still the same,” Prateik Babbar said, acknowledging the layers of complexity surrounding the situation.
At the heart of his explanation lay a deep respect for his late mother and her values. “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 said with emotion.
Reflecting on the choices he and Priya made, he remained firm in his belief that it was the most respectful course of action. “That was the best decision my wife and I made. And it could have been a 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,” he concluded.
