There’s lots in a name for Prateik. Last month, the 24-year-old actor made news for an unusual reason — his forthcoming film My Friend Pinto’s publicists sent out mails informing that the son of actor Raj Babbar and late Smita Patil wants to be known only as Prateik, without his last name, Babbar. His brother, Arya Babbar, had also lashed out at him earlier on the same issue, saying, ‘we’ve seen him do all kinds of things for publicity.’
But Prateik explains, “It has nothing to do with any problem with my family members or dad. It’s more about superstition and has a lot to do with my mother,” says the actor. It’s believed that Prateik’s maternal grandmother Vidya Patil and aunt Manya Patil, whom he is very close to, supported him in his decision. Before his mother passed away, she named him Prateik, which means symbol in Hindi. Believing that he will always remain his mother’s symbol, the young actor chose to forego his last name.
“So, it’s only about my emotional connect and personal beliefs,” he says.