Prateik Babbar and Priya Banerjee’s Valentine’s Day Wedding: A Love Story Amid Family Controversy
Prateik Babbar and Priya Banerjee’s Valentine’s Day Wedding: A Celebration of Love Amid Family Tension
On Valentine’s Day, Bollywood actor Prateik Babbar and actress Priya Banerjee exchanged vows in a private and intimate ceremony, marking a new chapter in their relationship. Held at the home of Prateik’s late mother, the iconic actress Smita Patil, in Bandra, Mumbai, the wedding was attended by close family and friends. However, the event has stirred up controversy due to the absence of key family members, including Prateik’s father, veteran actor-politician Raj Babbar, and his half-siblings, Aarya and Juhi Babbar.
While Prateik and Priya are adamant that the wedding was a deeply personal affair, the family’s absence sparked speculation about strained relationships. In response to rumors suggesting that the family’s absence was intentional, Priya took to Hindustan Times to clarify that no important family member was left out. She firmly stated, “There was absolutely no family member who was missing from the wedding or our celebrations. I don’t know why there are rumors that ‘family members’ were absent. Our families were there, including my parents, his aunts who raised him, his nana-nani, and everyone who mattered, and his family was with us.”
The Dispute: Aarya Babbar’s Disappointment
Despite Priya’s clarification, the absence of the Babbar family continues to be a subject of public debate. Aarya Babbar, Prateik’s half-brother, openly expressed his disappointment over being excluded from the wedding. In an interview with ETimes, Aarya revealed that nobody from the Babbar family had received an invitation, including his father. “Nobody from the Babbar family was invited—not even my father,” he said. He also suggested that there may have been external influences at play, adding, “I presume someone has overpowered his brain too much. He is not wanting to connect with anyone from this side of the family.”
Aarya’s frustration didn’t end there. He went on to criticize Prateik’s decision to exclude family members, particularly his father, who had been loved by Prateik’s late mother, Smita Patil. Aarya remarked, “Main iss hadd tak kehta hoon ki theek hai hamari maa Nadira ko nahi bulana chahte the woh, for whatever reason… I will give him the benefit of the doubt. He didn’t want to invite me or my sister Juhi (Babbar), okay. But at least he should have invited that person who Smita maa had loved, his father. Yeh cheez disrespect hai towards Smita maa.”
Prateik and Priya’s View on Their Wedding
While the Babbar family’s absence remains a point of contention, both Prateik and Priya have remained unfazed by the controversy. For them, the day was about celebrating their love with the people who matter most to them. Priya reflected on her transition into married life, noting that the change felt minimal due to their long-standing relationship. “Honestly, being married to Prateik and being married didn’t feel any different. We had been together for a very long time. It had been almost five years, we had lived under the same roof. More than that, I felt like I had known him forever. It felt the same.”
Prateik, on the other hand, took a more philosophical approach to the marriage, describing their union as something timeless. “It felt like I was doing this for the thousandth time. This was like another lifetime, another universe. I felt like I married her in every lifetime and every universe, and this was another one… and there were many more to go,” he said.
A Second Marriage for Prateik Babbar
This wedding marks Prateik’s second marriage following his previous union with Sanya Sagar, which ended in divorce. Despite the family controversies, Prateik and Priya’s wedding was a deeply personal and meaningful moment for the couple. The celebration was simple, yet profound, with the couple choosing to have a small gathering at a location that held emotional significance—his late mother’s home.
Family Dynamics and Public Perception
As the wedding continues to make headlines, the tension between Prateik and his family has become a focal point for the media. The absence of Raj Babbar, a prominent figure in Indian politics and Bollywood, and his children from Prateik’s first marriage has raised questions about family dynamics and relationships within the Babbar family.
The public dispute between Prateik and Aarya is not the first of its kind, and it highlights the complexities of family ties in the celebrity world. While Prateik and Priya maintain that their wedding was a celebration of love with those closest to them, Aarya’s remarks have added fuel to the ongoing debate about family expectations and obligations in high-profile weddings.
Moving Forward: What’s Next for Prateik and Priya?
Despite the drama surrounding the wedding, both Prateik and Priya seem determined to move forward with their relationship and focus on their happiness. For the couple, this wedding marks the beginning of a new chapter, one they are excited to embark on together, regardless of external family tensions.
With their Valentine’s Day wedding now in the rearview, Prateik and Priya are looking forward to a future filled with love and companionship. In their own words, the absence of certain family members will not overshadow the joy of their union, and they continue to stand by their decision to have a private ceremony surrounded by those who truly matter to them.