Actor-comedian Arya Babbar opened up about the Babbar family’s complicated history in a recent interview. Speaking about his father Raj Babbar’s relationship with late actress Smita Patil and his strained bond with half-brother Prateik Smita Patil, Arya shared emotional memories, painful truths and his family’s efforts to move forward with dignity.
Arya Babbar on Raj Babbar and Smita Patil’s relationship
When asked about Smita Patil entering Raj Babbar’s life, Arya admitted he was too young to fully understand the situation at the time, but acknowledged the emotional impact it had on the family.“Hua tha. Haan tha. Mohabbat hui thi. Consensual tha. Dono ki taraf se mujhe lagta hai mohabbat bahut achhi thi,” Arya told Vickey Lalwani.He added, “Kis bachche ko achha lagega ki uske papa ka affair ho raha tha? Agar aapko pata chalta ki aapke papa ka affair bahar chal raha hai, aapko achha lagta?”Despite the pain, Arya said he believes people should move on from the past. “Ho gaya, ho gaya yaar. Everyone moves on,” he remarked.
‘Main Smita Maa ko hamesha izzat dunga’
Arya credited his mother, Nadira Babbar, for teaching him and his sister Juhi to treat Prateik with love and respect.“Our mother taught us that. Our father didn’t teach us that,” Arya said, while speaking about maintaining warmth towards Prateik despite the circumstances.Recalling when he started referring to Smita Patil as “Smita Maa,” Arya shared, “Prateik meri maa ko ‘Maa’ bol raha tha. Toh mujhe laga ki agar mera chhota bhai meri maa ko itni izzat de raha hai, toh mera farz hai ki main uski maa ko bhi wahi izzat doon.”He further added, “Main Smita Maa ko hamesha woh izzat aur woh pyaar dunga.”
Arya Babbar takes a dig at Prateik amid family fallout
Arya also became emotional while discussing the current distance between him and Prateik. Speaking about feeling hurt by Prateik allegedly distancing himself from the Babbar family, Arya said the situation was especially painful considering the respect Raj Babbar gave Smita Patil during their relationship.“Kitne bade dukh ki baat hai ye… jis Smita Maa ke liye papa ne hum sabko chhoda aur chale gaye, aaj wahi Smita Maa ka bachcha jo hai, papa ko papa nahi maan raha hai,” Arya said.He added that despite the emotional strain, he still considers Prateik his younger brother and would always stand by him if needed.“Aaj bhi agar woh mujhe phone karke bole ki bhaiya main problem mein hoon, 3 baje raat ko aapki zarurat hai, main pahunch jaunga,” Arya said.However, he admitted things may never feel exactly the same again. “Woh kharoch lag gayi hai bahut buri,” Arya confessed.
Arya reveals he tried contacting Prateik repeatedly
The actor revealed that he repeatedly tried to contact Prateik through calls, messages and voice notes, but allegedly received no response.“I have messaged him so many times. I have called him so many times. I have sent him voice notes… but no response,” Arya said.Sharing one of the birthday voice notes he had sent, he recalled saying, “Happy birthday beta… agar koi kaaran hai toh baat karo us baat ko suljha do.”
Arya reacts to Prateik changing his surname
The conversation also touched upon Prateik’s multiple name changes over the years.“Pehle Prateik Babbar tha, phir Prateik Smith hua, phir wapas Babbar hua, ab Prateik Smita Patil hai,” Arya said.When asked why this keeps happening, he replied, “Mujhe nahi pata sir… maybe some numerology thing is happening.”
Raj Babbar ‘never stopped working’
Arya also reflected on how Raj Babbar dealt with the loss of Smita Patil in 1986.“He never stopped working. He is a workaholic,” Arya said, adding that with age, he has come to better understand the emotional turmoil his father must have experienced after losing someone he deeply loved.
