Prateik Smita Patil admits to 'following thousands of pretty women' after first marriage fallout. 'It was ladies vs Prateik'

Prateik Smita Patil, formerly known as Prateik Babbar, has opened up about a deeply personal and painful period that followed the end of his first marriage. After separating from producer Sanya Sagar, the actor found himself engulfed in emotional turmoil. In a recent interview, he admitted that the experience left him bitter and disillusioned about love and commitment.

He revealed that the breakdown of the relationship created a strong mental block. As he explained, “It was a huge mental block. After what I went through, I had made up my mind that love and marriage were never an option. I gave it my all in my previous marriage. I stepped up to my role, no matter what life or that relationship threw at me. I wanted to be the best partner. But unfortunately, it didn’t work out. So I was extremely bitter about love and marriage.”

Reckless Coping Mechanism

After the divorce, Prateik admitted to coping with his pain in destructive ways. Instead of healing, he gave in to feelings of anger and resentment. He described this phase as one where he became vengeful, seeking validation and revenge through impulsive actions.

“I was very angry at my situation and vengeful. And out of vengeance, I ended up following thousands of pretty women on Instagram. I was like, ‘I was so good in my marriage… now let’s see.’ And ladies, be aware. It was really ladies vs. Prateik… the beast in me unleashed. That was my mindset,” he said.

A Turning Point: Meeting Priya

Among the many women he followed on Instagram during that phase was actress Priya Banerjee. Initially, they didn’t speak. But a simple story reply from Prateik eventually broke the silence, leading to frequent meetings and long drives. Their connection grew stronger over time. “For the first three months, we didn’t strike a conversation. But finally, I had the courage to reply to her story and next thing I know, we were going on drives, we were meeting regularly… and the rest is history,” he shared.

Their relationship started during the lockdown period, a time that was difficult for many, but proved transformative for them. Reflecting on their journey, Prateik remarked, “She had broken her previous engagement and I was going through a divorce. That’s when we happened to meet in the lockdown. Kafi logon ke liye lockdown negative raha… kafi logon ki shaadiyaan toot gayi… par humne pyaar dhoond liya aur humari shaadi pakki ho gayi.”

On February 14, 2025, the couple tied the knot, marking a fresh chapter in Prateik’s life. Just a month later, he also officially changed his name to Prateik Smita Patil, honouring his late mother, the iconic actress Smita Patil. The decision, he said, came from his deep-rooted connection with her and a sense of absence he felt due to his father Raj Babbar’s limited presence in his early years.