Prateik Babbar, son of Raj Babbar and the late Smita Patil, talks about his style of acting and why he wants to be like his mother

Young actor Prateik Babbar, son of the late legendary art house film actor Smita Patil and the veteran Raj Babbar, says he wants to walk his mother’s line as he wishes to work in serious cinema than act in candyfloss masala films.

“I want to be like my mother. I would like to do the kind of work she did. She was very intense and she just loved the challenge of art-house cinema. These are the films that I’m passionate about and would love acting in them,” the 21-year-old says.

He adds, “I don’t want to do the normal regular stuff. I believe if I even act in art-house cinema and if I’m good at it, there will be a place for me. I want to do meaningful films with strong roles. It has to be a film that reaches out to people.” But isn’t Prateik expecting too much as a newcomer? He says, “Maybe I am, but I’m good enough, I am sure offers and good roles will come to me.”

When we ask him whose acting style – his mother’s or father’s – he has inherited, he says, “I think both of their styles. Both have been very powerful performers and I would love it if people say that I have inherited the best of both.”

Prateik has been cast alongside Aamir Khan’s nephew Imran Khan in Jaane Tu… ya jaane na. However, isn’t Prateik insecure considering the fact that Imran playing the lead role, and obviously hogging all the limelight?

“Acting in Jaane Tu… has been worth an experience for me. I am young and have a long way to go and getting a platform like this is very good for me. Even if I have a small role, I hope to catch the attention of the people,” he says.

Prateik adds, “I am not such a great actor that I could have been the lead. It’s Imran’s film and he’s like my brother. My wishes are with him and I’m not jealous with what he is getting. He deserves it all.”