Prateik Smita Patil marked Father’s Day with a heartfelt tribute to his late grandfather, Shivajirao Patil, who played a pivotal role in raising him after the death of his mother, legendary actress Smita Patil.Sharing an emotional post on Instagram, Prateik reflected on the love, values and guidance he received from his grandfather. Notably, the actor did not mention his father, veteran actor Raj Babbar, in the post.
‘Happy Father’s Day to my reason, my godfather’
Prateik shared a photograph with his grandfather and expressed gratitude for the years they spent together.“Happy Father’s Day to my reason, my godfather. Words cannot express how lucky I was to have you as my father and grandfather. I am forever indebted and grateful for your love and the years I spent with you in this physical world. The older I get, the more I realise you were the greatest, most dignified man I knew and will ever know in this lifetime,” he wrote.The actor went on to thank his grandfather for raising him and shaping the person he is today.“Thank you for raising me and instilling your remarkable values in me. I am the proudest man to be part of your extraordinary legacy. I’ll celebrate you every day till our souls unite again, and then we’ll celebrate you together for infinity, PA. Rest in power,” he added.
A complicated relationship with Raj Babbar
While Prateik’s Father’s Day post focused entirely on his grandfather, it comes amid continued public interest in his relationship with Raj Babbar.Although neither father nor son has publicly discussed the current status of their relationship in detail, many were surprised when Raj Babbar was absent from Prateik’s wedding celebrations in February last year.In recent years, Prateik has increasingly embraced his mother’s legacy. The actor, who was previously known as Prateik Babbar, adopted the name Prateik Smita Patil and also updated his Instagram profile to reflect the change.
Arya Babbar ‘s remarks sparked discussion
The topic resurfaced last month when Prateik’s half-brother, Arya Babbar, spoke about the matter in an interview.“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,” Arya said.
Prateik has often spoken about his childhood
For those unfamiliar, the relationship between Smita Patil and Raj Babbar attracted considerable attention during the 1980s, as Raj was married to theatre veteran Nadira Babbar when he fell in love with Smita. Raj and Nadira are parents to actors Arya Babbar and Juhi Babbar.Prateik was born shortly before Smita Patil’s death in 1986 due to childbirth complications. He was subsequently raised largely by his maternal grandparents and extended family.Over the years, the actor has candidly spoken about the emotional challenges of growing up without his mother and navigating a complicated relationship with his father. In multiple interviews, he has credited his grandparents for providing him with stability, love and a strong value system during his formative years.
