Prateik Babbar Says Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar Wanted To Adopt Him, 'I Could've Been Farhan's...'

Prateik Babbar’s turbulent relationship with his father, Raj Babbar, has been out in the open for some time now, and it became more evident when he did not invite the veteran actor to his wedding. The actor has now made an unexpected revelation about the time veteran artists, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, once considered adopting him after the untimely death of his mother, legendary actress Smita Patil. 

Prateik recalls Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar’s willingness to adopt him

In a recent conversation with Zoom, Prateik Babbar shared a touching revelation— Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar had considered adopting him after his mother, Smita Patil, died due to childbirth complications. The revelation came as a shock to Prateik, who learned about it only recently, and described the feeling as deeply overwhelming and emotional. Prateik shared:

“I recently found out Shabana ji and Javed (Akhtar) sahab wanted to adopt me after my mother passed away. It was kind of complicated. I could’ve been Farhan’s (Akhtar) stepbrother (laughs). I find these new things about me all the time. Aur kya hai, batao. It’s also very overwhelming. Ye hota toh main pata nahi kaisi zindagi jee raha hota.”

Prateik Babbar’s birth, losing his mother, and the custody fight

Born in 1986, Prateik Babbar is the son of late actress, Smita Patil, and actor-politician, Raj Babbar. Their controversial relationship began on the sets of Bheegi Palkein in 1982, while Raj was still married to Nadira Babbar. He eventually married Smita, but tragedy struck soon after; Smita passed away due to childbirth complications shortly after giving birth to Prateik.

In the aftermath of the unexpected tragedy, Prateik, who was only a few days old at that time, was taken in by Smita’s parents. But what many didn’t know, including Prateik himself, until recently, was that the Azmi-Akhtar household, closely connected to Smita both personally and professionally, had considered taking him in. Recalling the custody battle that followed, Prateik shared:

“There are many things I hear about myself as a child. There was a custody fight for me in my childhood. I was so little, just crying, I had no idea what was happening to me. People wanted to adopt me.”

Prateik Babbar on the love and respect for Smita Patel in the industry

During the same interview, Prateik expressed his gratitude for the love and admiration his late mother, Smita Patil, continues to receive even decades after her passing. He shared that several of her contemporaries, including Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, and the late Shyam Benegal, have always shown him kindness and support. In a heartfelt revelation, he also mentioned that he recently learned he was conceived during the filming of Mirch Masala (1987). In his words:

“I’m very grateful for all the love she gets, and all the goodwill she has in the industry, among all her colleagues and friends. Shabana ji was definitely one of them, along with Javed sahab. Amit ji (Amitabh Bachchan) has always been very kind and supportive. I think everybody from her time, everybody she shared upon with, Naseer sahab (Naseeruddin Shah), Ratna (Pathak Shah) ji, the late great Shyam Benegal, obviously. That was a different era. I recently found out about myself, I was conceived on the sets of Mirch Masala (1987).”

Now 38, Prateik continues to uncover pieces of his fragmented past, learning new things about his mother, Smita Patil, the woman he longed to know but never got the chance to receive love from. What do you think about his revelation?

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