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Deccan Herald
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Films led me to atheism
Films have played a huge part in the way I think – Amitabh Bachchan was my childhood hero. It was sometime in 1987 that as an eight-year-old, on a summer vacation at cousins' in Madras, I went to watch a Hindi remake of a superhit Tamil film. Big B was in a double role, Sridevi and Jayaprada were in it, and all were at the peak of their stardoms. In Aakhree Raasta (The Last Option), Bachchan reprised in Hindi what Kamal Haasan essayed in Oru Kaidhiyan Diary (A Prisoner's Diary) from 1985. As an adult, now I wonder how on earth I was allowed to watch such a film in the cinema hall. I had watched Sholay earlier, and what happened to the upright cop played by Sanjeev Kumar haunted Aakhree Raasta, Bachchan plays David, a poor, trusting party worker to a good-seeming but ultimately vile politician who rapes David's wife (Jayaprada). She hangs herself, leaving a note of what happened, and leaves behind their little son. When he seeks justice, the politician, the police, and the lawyers ensure evidence is burned, and Bachchan is framed and jailed for 20 years. In jail, he asks his best friend (Anupam Kher) to ensure that his son grows up to become the most evil person in the world and take revenge for what happened to his mother. To my child's imagination, that first half of Aakhree Raasta did enough damage along with Sholay that there existed any god. The 1980s are generally considered to be the nadir of Bollywood. Even then, they made commercial hits that could shake you up like Aakhree Raasta. Still a child, I knew I wasn't watching just a film, but seeing discomfiting reflections of reality that surround a teenager, I devoured the NFDC films that ripped through the humbug of Indian society. Film after film, story after story, gave me a sense of India, and the world, being a hostile, unfriendly place, with occasional moments of tenderness and beauty, where differently subjugated peoples rebelled at great cost or fought tooth and nail to retain the little they had..I remember watching Ketan Mehta's Mirch Masala on a Sunday afternoon on Doordarshan, neighbours and family crowding my family's poky third-floor northern Bombay suburban flat, since we were perhaps the earliest to get a colour television yet. Almost 15 people were in our hall, many sitting on the floor, and the main door was open for the others to stand and watch. In the morning, they had wept tears over some moment in the televised Ramayana, and bowed to a wooden but beaming Arun Govil playing the god they returned and were fuming over the menacing subedar in Mirch Masala played by Naseeruddin Shah. They cheered Smita Patil and her female supporters as they blinded him with red chilli powder in rural, colonial Rajasthan, shocked into stillness at Shah's screams that concluded the the general picture I received almost everywhere was that god exists, god is kind, god hears you, god provides succour to the suffering. Over time, at home and outside, it caused grief that I took to serious reading critiquing faith, and fell out with notions of an almighty. To some degree, I felt the idea of god made humans avoid accountability. I provided some films as proof of god's non-existence. Relationships frayed. I still often hear that the ails of life and age shall cause a softening towards the idea of god inside me. With the world burning each day, I find my irreligiosity even more resolute than ever and wonder how the faithful continue to believe in any almighty.
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First Post
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Prateik Smita Patil says Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi wanted to adopt him after his mother's death: 'I could've been Farhan Akhtar's stepbrother and…'
The actor recalled, 'I recently found out Shabana (Azmi)Ji and Javed (Akhtar) Sahab wanted to adopt me after my mother passed away. It was kind of complicated. I could've been Farhan's (Akhtar) stepbrother.' read more Prateik Smita Patil who was earlier called Prateik Babbar has made a revelation in his interview with Zoom about how Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar wanted to adopt him after his mother Smita Patil's death. The actor recalled, 'I recently found out Shabana (Azmi)Ji and Javed (Akhtar) Sahab wanted to adopt me after my mother passed away. It was kind of complicated. I could've been Farhan's (Akhtar) stepbrother.' Patil added, ' I find these new things about me all the time. Aur kya hai, batao (what else is there, tell me). It's also very overwhelming. Ye hota toh main pata nahi kaisi zindagi jee raha hota (If this had happened, I don't know what kind of a life I'd be leading now)." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the legendary actress' goodwill in Hindi cinema I am happy for all the goodwill she has in the industry, among all her colleagues and friends. Shabana Ji was definitely one of them, along with Javed Sahab. Amit Ji (Amitabh Bachchan) has always been very kind and supportive. I think everybody from her time, everybody she shared with, Naseer Sahab (Naseeruddin Shah), Ratna (Pathak Shah) Ji, and the late great Shyam Benegal. That was a different era. I recently found out about myself, I was conceived on the sets of Mirch Masala (1987)." Prateik Babbar has been garnering headlines ever since his wedding with Priya Banerjee, in which he invited his closest family members and friends except for his father Raj Babbar and half-siblings Arya Babbar and Juhi Babbar. While this thing created a stir on social media, the actor has now officially dropped hisfather's name and will go by his late mother and iconic actress name Prateik Smita Patil. '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," said the Baaghi 2 star to Times of India. 'I need to be wholly and solely associated with my mother (Smita Patil), her name and her legacy. I don't think any other name needs to taint that legacy, if you understand what I mean. It needs to just be her name and her legacy. That's what I'm striving to be. I'm striving to be like my mother and not like my dad. It feels like a new chapter," he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Raj Babbar opened up on painful moments after Smita Patil's demise: ‘Never had enough time to plan things for Prateik'
Actors and 's love story was far from straightforward. It was an emotional maze, filled with intense feelings, unspoken worries, and moments of tender togetherness. Their relationship began on the sets of 'Bheegi Palkein', where Raj, who was already married to theatre actor Babbar, found himself drawn to Smita's fearless nature and striking individuality. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Their bond quickly became the talk of the industry. Smita was known for her powerful performances in films like 'Manthan', 'Arth' and 'Mirch Masala', and her deep-rooted commitment to meaningful cinema. Raj, meanwhile, balanced his theatre pursuits with mainstream films, and was seen as someone who lived life with passion. Together, they shared a connection that was intense, complicated, and yet beautifully human. 'I wish she were around to see her son growing' In 1986, Raj and Smita welcomed their son Prateik. For a while, it seemed like their family was finally taking shape. But life had other plans. Just days after Prateik was born, Smita passed away due to post-partum complications. Raj once opened up about this painful time while talking to Looking back at their short time as parents, he shared, 'She was a great human being. We never had enough time to plan things for our son Prateik. I guess he will be doing films shortly. He is already getting calls from various producers and directors. I have given him a free hand to do that. I wish she were around to see her son growing.' An evening that changed everything Raj also recalled the evening when everything turned upside down. He said, 'The most painful moments of life are those which come unexpected. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now One fine evening, when I was getting ready to go for a function I saw her quivering. I touched her and found that she had a fever. I called the doctor and he told me that she needs immediate hospitalisation. I took her to hospital and she was being removed to the intensive care unit.' It all happened so suddenly, 'Thoughout the journey from home to hospital, she kept apologising and I told her that everything would be okay. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. Her look said it all. The doctor came out after an hour and said she had gone into a coma.' Memories that never fade Even though years have passed, Raj has never forgotten Smita. In fact, her memories still live on in him every single day. He spoke from the heart when he said, 'I was part of her and she was part of me. It is natural that you miss a person who was your heart and soul throughout your life, no matter how brave you may say you are. She and her memories will continue to be part of me till my last day.'
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Why Amitabh Bachchan Reacted Strongly To Smita Patil Sitting On The Floor And Eating With Light Men
Patil worked with Amitabh Bachchan in the film Shakti (1982). Her son Prateik shared a story about her lunch habits on set. Bachchan advised Patil that her actions influenced others' perceptions. New Delhi: Smita Patil was one of the most acclaimed actresses of the 1970s, with films like Mirch Masala, Manthan, Ardh Satya, Arth and Mandi to her credit. Despite being a phenomenal actress, she was extremely down-to-earth. Smita Patil had worked in a film called Shakti (1982) with Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar, and Rakhee. Recently in conversation with Varinder Chawla's YouTube Channel, Smita Patil's son Prateik Smita Patil shared an incident that had taken place on the sets of the above-mentioned film. Prateik revealed how Amitabh Bachchan had reprimanded Smita Patil for bringing lunch from home and sitting on the floor and eating with the light men. Prateik revealed, "Such a big superstar, Smita Patil, eating lunch on the floor. One day Amitabh Bachchan called her to the side and said listen you are screwing it up for people like us. Tum baithte ho neeche aise sab ke sath toh hum kharab dikhte hain kyunki hum nahi karenge toh hum kharab dikhenge. Humko bhi karna padega abhi. Hum bure lag rahe hain aapki wajah se. (You sit on the floor with everyone, and it makes us look bad because we aren't doing it. We would also have to do it because it looks bad otherwise). And she was bindaas, she was like, aap jao van mein, main kha rahi hu (You go to the van, I am eating here)." Amitabh Bachchan and the late Smita Patil worked in other films like Namak Halaal (1982), and Pet Pyar Aur Paap (1984). On the work front, Prateik was last seen in HIT: The Third Case led by Nani and Srinidhi Shetty. The film also had Surya Srinivas, Rao Ramesh, Komalee Prasad, and Nepoleon, among others, in key roles.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Amitabh Bachchan told Smita Patil not to sit on the floor and eat with light men: 'Hum bure lagte hai aapki wajah se'
Smita Patil is not only known for her powerhouse performances in films like Mirch Masala, Manthan, Ardh Satya, Arth and Mandi to name a few, but also for being a down-to-earth personality. Her son Prateik Smita Patil recenlty shared a heartwarming incident from the sets of Shakti (1982) which starred legends like Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhee. (Also read: Prateik Smita Patil reveals the real reason behind not inviting father Raj Babbar to his wedding, says sorry) In an interaction with Varinder Chawla's YouTube channel, Prateik recalled how Smita would bring her lunch from home and sit on the floor with light men and share food with them. "Such a big superstar, Smita Patil, eating lunch on the floor. One day Amitabh Bachchan called her to the side and said listen you are screwing it up for people like us. Tum baithte ho neeche aise sab ke sath toh hum kharab dikhte hain kyunki hum nahi karenge toh hum kharab dikhenge. Humko bhi karna padega abhi. Hum bure lag rahe hain aapki wajah se. (You sit on the floor with everyone, and it makes us look bad because we aren't doing it. We would also have to do it because it looks bad otherwise). And she was bindaas, she was like, aap jao van mein, main kha rahi hu (You go to the van, I am eating here)," Prateik said. Amitabh and Smita worked together in films like Shakti (1982), Namak Halaal (1982), and Pet Pyar Aur Paap (1984). Smita also made a guest appearance in Sharabi (1984), which had Jaya Prada as the female lead. Prateik was recently seen in the movie HIT: The Third Case. Helmed by Sailesh Kolanu, the film features Nani and Srinidhi Shetty in lead roles, along with Surya Srinivas, Rao Ramesh, Komalee Prasad, Nepoleon and others in key roles.
