Juhi Babbar celebrates Raksha Bandhan without Prateik Smita Patil, shares photos with Arya Babbar: 'Life goes on and...'

In the midst of lingering family tensions, Juhi Babbar marked this year’s Raksha Bandhan with warmth, joy, and a tinge of longing. Celebrating with her brother Arya Babbar, she shared heartfelt photos from the occasion while subtly acknowledging the absence of their half-brother, Prateik Smita Patil — a reminder that even in strained relationships, the ties of blood remain unshaken.

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Photos capture joy and absence

Juhi shared a series of photos on Instagram from her Raksha Bandhan celebrations with Arya Babbar and their cousins. Prateik Babbar was missing from the pictures, and though Juhi didn’t directly address his absence, she hinted at it by saying the day felt “incomplete.” She reflected that while the festival brought joy, a part of her heart was still missing.

A heartfelt message

Her caption read, 'Some celebrations are full…and some feel incomplete. Today is Raksha Bandhan, and while the joy is here, a part of my heart is still missing. But life goes on...and NOTHING can change the bond of blood. True blood remains, always.'

Complex family ties

Prateik, the son of Raj Babbar and the late Smita Patil, was born during Raj’s marriage to actress Smita while he was still legally married to Nadira Babbar. Raj and Nadira have two children together—Juhi and Arya Babbar. Although Prateik has occasionally been seen with his half-siblings and father at public events, he chose not to invite them to his wedding with Priya Banerjee in February this year, a decision that sparked discussion on social media.

Honouring his mother’s legacy

Amid the family tensions, Prateik decided to drop his father Raj Babbar’s surname and adopt the name Prateik Smita Patil as a tribute to his mother’s legacy. In an interview with the Times of India, he explained that he wants to be fully identified with his mother’s name and the legacy she left behind, without any other association overshadowing it. He expressed that this change marks a fresh chapter in his life, driven by his desire to emulate his mother rather than his father.

However, in April, Juhi Babbar appeared to address the ongoing family buzz by sharing a picture with Prateik and Arya Babbar. She captioned it, “Raj Babbar Ji Ke Teeno Bacche… JUHI AARYA PRATEIK… A FACT NOBODY CAN CHANGE,” subtly reinforcing their shared bond despite the recent tensions.