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Prateik Babbar has chosen to drop his father Raj Babbar’s surname (Source: Express Photo by Dilip Kagda)Prateik Babbar has taken a significant step in redefining his identity, choosing to drop his father Raj Babbar’s surname and adopt his late mother Smita Patil’s name instead.
Now known as Prateik Smita Patil, he explained his decision in an interview with Filmfare, saying, “Yes, absolutely. Prateik Smita Patil is a powerful name, and Smita Patil has a powerful legacy. I am merely just embracing her power. I am the son of the late great legend Smita Patil.” His decision is deeply personal, reflecting a desire to wholly associate himself with his mother and her legacy.
Speaking to Times of India, he elaborated, “I’m just thinking about what makes me and my soul feel better, and what makes my heart smile, not thinking if it will negatively affect my career. I don’t care about the repercussions. All I care about is the way I feel when I hear that name.”
The conversation surrounding his choice intensified after he and actor Priya Banerjee got married in an intimate ceremony at Smita Patil’s home on February 14, 2025. The absence of Raj Babbar and his children from the wedding led to speculation, but Priya addressed the matter directly, stating, “There is nothing to change. There was never anything there. So, I’m confused when people comment, ‘You did this to somebody.’ But no, that family was never there, that person (hinting at Raj Babbar) was never there in his life. So, I’m not sure why that question is coming up now, 30 years later.”
She further stated, “It is somebody’s life we’re talking about. Somebody went through something for 30 years. Not a lot of people would understand what a kid goes through when they lose their mom at first, right?”
However, on Instagram, the actor has yet to update his name, which still appears as Prateik Patil Babbar.
Bhakti Joshi, counselling psychologist, trauma-focused therapist and founder at Asha Mental Health Services, tells indianexpress.com, “Changing one’s surname to honour a late parent can provide a deep sense of belonging, serving as a way to preserve their legacy and maintain a connection to them. It can help fill the emotional gap left by their absence, offering comfort and continuity. At the same time, it may also reflect the complexities of family relationships, as individuals may embrace one lineage while distancing themselves from others due to past disappointments or emotional upheavals.”
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Family estrangement, particularly from a parent, can have a profound psychological impact on an individual. “It can lead to feelings of isolation, attachment wounds, a deep sense of abandonment, and an identity crisis. Additionally, it may foster resentment towards parental figures and influence how they navigate relationships, often shaping their ability to trust and form secure emotional bonds,” states Joshi.
The loss of a mother at an early age can profoundly impact one’s sense of belonging and personal relationships later in life. Joshi explains that individuals may try to fill the emotional void from childhood through adult relationships, often developing specific attachment patterns or wounds. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, self-esteem concerns, and the projection of internal fears onto their relationships. As a result, they may either cling to their partners to secure love and stability or push them away to avoid the pain of potential loss.
