Pratik Babbar denies rift with dad Raj Babbar

By Subhash K Jha

Belying all rumours of a rift with his father Raj Babbar, Pratik this week took off to for the Ferozabad district of Uttar Pradesh to campaign for for his father for the by-elections on November 7, thereby putting a lid to rumors that the impulsive and emotional Pratik had decided to drop his father’s surname.

For the cocooned and totally apolitical Pratik this is an audacious step to move steps closer to his father’s heritage.

While Pratik was engaged in Uttar Pradesh, his aunt Manya Patil confirmed Pratik’s determined bid to stand by his father publicly for the first time.

“This wasn’t done to prove any point to anyone, and certainly not to disprove rumours of a rift with his father, ” says Manya Patil. “Pratik couldn’t care less what people think.

He took off this week to campaign for his father in the Ferozabad district (UP). I was as surprised as anyone else when he told me, ‘I want to do this for my dad. He needs me to be by his side and I have to do it.’We’ve never stopped him following his heart.”

Manya was just a bit apprehensive about the language problem when Pratik announced the decision to get on the political podium to his aunt. “The boy is not that good with the Hindi as yet, though he’s learning fast. So I told him to just fold his hands, say a few words at every rally and meeting.”

Watching Pratik stand next to his politician-dad is déjà vu for Manya Patil.

“It reminds of my sister, Pratik’s mom Smita Patil campaigning for Murli Deora and Sunil Dutt Saab. She also used to be a very prominent part of our father Shivajirao Patil’s political rallys.We are a family of politicians. And Pratik has politics in his blood from both his parents.”

Speaking on the rumours that Pratik wanted to change his surname from Babbar to Patil his aunt says, “These rumours probably started because Pratik wanted to call himself Mickey after our beloved family dog who passed away. Then for a while Pratik also told his friends he wants to be known as Patrick. He goes through these phases.”

At the end of the day, Pratik is a proud Babbar. And that is why he’s joined hands with his father for the first time on a public platform to let the world acknowledge them as father and son.