Prateik Babbar changes screen name in tribute to mother Smita Patil

Actor Prateik Babbar has added his mother, late actor Smita Patil’s surname to his name. The actor’s screen name will now be Prateik Patil Babbar, as reflected on his Instagram handle.  

Prateik is the son of Smita and actor Raj Babbar. He made his screen debut with the 2008 film Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, starring Imran Khan and Genelia D'Souza. He also featured in the series Four More Shots Please! He was last seen in Madhur Bhandarkar's India Lockdown.

Revealing the reason behind changing his name, Prateik, as per a DNA report, said, “With the blessings of my father and my entire family, my late maternal grandparents and my late mother, I have decided to add my mother's last name as my middle name, giving birth to my new screen name ‘Prateik Patil Babbar’.” Calling the decision 'part superstitious, part sentimental’ and added, "When my name appears in film credits or anywhere for that matter, I want it to be a reminder to myself, the people, & the audience of her extraordinary & remarkable legacy, of my legacy. A reminder of her brilliance and greatness.”

“My mother will be a part of each and every endeavour I put my energies into, not that she wasn’t a part before. But having her last name as part of my name just solidifies the sentiment. It’ll be 37 years this year since she left us, gone but not forgotten. I will make sure she is never forgotten. Smita Patil will live on through my name, quite literally,” the actor added. Smita Patil died in1986 due to complications in childbirth, weeks after Prateik was born.