Prateik Smita Patil on Skipping Raj Babbar at His Wedding and Calling Out Bollywood Marriages: “90% Are a Facade”

Actor Prateik Smita Patil has once again found himself at the centre of public conversation—this time for his unfiltered views on marriage in Bollywood and his deeply personal decision to not invite his father, veteran actor Raj Babbar, to his wedding with Priya Banerjee. In a series of recent interviews, Prateik and Priya have spoken candidly about family, relationships, industry hypocrisy and why authenticity matters more to them than public approval.

An Intimate Wedding Rooted in Personal History

Prateik Smita Patil and Priya Banerjee tied the knot on February 14, 2025, in a quiet, intimate ceremony held at the Bandra home of Prateik’s late mother, legendary actor Smita Patil. The wedding was attended only by close friends and family, a choice that drew attention after it emerged that Prateik had not invited his father Raj Babbar, stepmother Nadira Babbar, or his half-siblings.

Addressing the decision in an interview with Zoom, Prateik clarified that it was not driven by bitterness or estrangement. Instead, it stemmed from a desire to honour his mother’s memory. He explained that given the complicated history between Smita Patil and Raj Babbar’s wife, it felt “unethical” to invite his father’s family into a space that held such emotional significance for him and his mother.

“This was my mother’s house. She lived there as a single mother and raised me there,” Prateik said, adding that while he was open to having a separate function with his father’s side of the family, the wedding itself needed to remain sacred and uncomplicated. He also expressed regret over how the situation escalated publicly, noting that impulsive reactions and incomplete narratives turned a personal decision into a controversy.

A Complicated Father-Son Relationship

Prateik’s relationship with Raj Babbar has long been complex. Born in 1986, the same year Smita Patil tragically passed away due to childbirth complications, Prateik was raised by his maternal grandparents. Raj Babbar later reunited with his first wife, Nadira. Over the years, Prateik has spoken openly about emotional distance and unresolved issues with his father.

In earlier interviews, Prateik also revealed that he has officially changed his name to Prateik Smita Patil, distancing himself from the Babbar surname. “I need to be wholly and solely associated with my mother, her name and her legacy,” he said, underlining how central Smita Patil’s influence remains in his life.

“90% of Bollywood Marriages Are a Facade”

While promoting their music video Ishq Fakir, Prateik and Priya made headlines again by calling out what they see as the performative nature of celebrity marriages. In multiple interviews, including conversations with Miss Malini and Team Varinder Chawla, the couple claimed that most Bollywood marriages lack authenticity.

“Ninety percent of Bollywood marriages are a facade,” Priya said, adding that she speaks from personal observation as someone within the industry. Prateik agreed, bluntly stating, “It shows.”

The couple criticised the pressure to marry for image, career optics or societal expectations rather than emotional readiness. They argued that many relationships fail because people rush into marriage to meet deadlines set by parents, the industry or public perception.

Reaction to ‘Raat Gayi Baat Gayi’ Remark

Prateik also referenced a viral comment made by Twinkle Khanna on her talk show Two Much, where she jokingly used the phrase “raat gayi baat gayi” while discussing physical infidelity. While Twinkle later clarified that the remark was part of a light-hearted segment, Prateik said such casual attitudes reveal uncomfortable truths about how infidelity is normalised in certain circles.

“If married people are saying ‘raat gayi baat gayi,’ you know what the situation is,” he remarked. Priya echoed the sentiment, saying she judges senior actors who dismiss marriage vows lightly, adding that such behaviour contradicts the values often publicly associated with Indian culture.

Prateik went a step further, stating that infidelity is no longer aspirational. “Cheating, multiple partners—it’s out of fashion. Having a wife and a girlfriend is not cool,” he said.

Finding Love After Turbulence

Prateik has also spoken openly about the emotional lows he experienced after his first marriage to Sanya Sagar ended. In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, he admitted that he was in a “vengeful” and angry state post-divorce, even following thousands of women on social media as an emotional reaction.

Ironically, it was during the lockdown—when both he and Priya were coming out of broken relationships—that they met. What began as a casual social media interaction gradually turned into a relationship. “Lockdown was negative for many people… marriages broke. But we found love,” Prateik said, describing their connection as something that arrived at the right time.

A Marriage on Their Own Terms

For Prateik and Priya, their marriage represents a conscious rejection of industry norms. They have consistently stressed that marriage should be about compatibility, self-awareness and choice—not obligation or optics. Their candid remarks have resonated with many online, even as they have drawn criticism from others.

Whether discussing family wounds or calling out Bollywood’s glossy illusions, Prateik Smita Patil appears determined to live—and love—on his own terms, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths along the way.