Aarya Babbar, speaking on behalf of his family, is deeply saddened by the Babbars being excluded from his Prateik’s guest list. “We’ve always treated him like an integral part of our family. True, we are brothers from different mothers. But I address Prateik’s mother as Smita Maa. My mother (theatre and film actress Nadira Babbar) treats Prateik as one of her children. We were very hurt when we were not invited for Prateik’s wedding.”
And now, in an interview, Prateik’s new bride, Priya Banerjee (his second marriage), has spoken of how “those who mattered” were all present at the wedding.
Aarya is seriously hurt. “Sir, does this mean we don’t matter to Prateik? My father is his father. For us, Prateik is as much a Babbar as a Patil. Chalo, aapne humein nahi bulaya apni shaadi mein. But why is that child (Priya) insulting us by suggesting we don’t matter? It is saddening and painful, because people are wondering about their behaviour, not ours.”
Aarya springs a surprise by revealing that all was gung-ho between the Babbars and Prateik until before the wedding. “We were all like one family, the Babbars, Prateik, and his fiancee Priya. Yes, she was very friendly with us. In fact, we were all there at their engagement. The sudden change in their attitude happened after the engagement. We feel they are both being brainwashed by someone. I wouldn’t say anything more. I don’t want to hurt anyone, or say anything to disrespect the feelings of that Bachcha and Bacchi (Pratik and Priya). They will one day learn, certain lines are not crossed when it comes to the family.”
