Bollywood Flashback: Smita-Raj Babbar’s unrequited love story!

When Raj Babbar met Smita Patil for the first time, on the sets of Bheegi Palkein, he realised there was immense depth to her character. She was the friendly sort, who, despite being a tremendous actress, sought Raj’s advice once in a while. Gradually, they formed an intimate bond. ‘My relationship with Smita was not the result of problems with Nadira (his wife) — it just happened. Nadira was mature enough to understand my feelings. Juhi (Raj and Nadir’s daughter) always loved being with Smita. We were married in 1981,’ Raj was once quoted saying. But Smita’s unconventional decision to marry the already married Raj, had stirred turmoil in the film industry and got her flak pouring in from all quarters, including the feminist organisations for whom she had worked so hard all her life. Raj finally left Nadira for Smita after marriage. Together, they led an agonizing journey marred with public backlash and much criticism.

Smita Patil: The unmatchable, mesmering gaze of those smouldering and expressive eyes

Born into the family of a Maharashtrian politician; Shivajirao Girdhar Patil and social worker Vidyatai Patil, Smita who was regarded as one of the finest actresses of Indian Cinema, was discovered by Shyam Benegal while she was working as a newsreader for Doordarshan. Smita mostly portrayed all women oriented roles that had an insight of different aspects of Indian women in Indian Society. She was termed as the only actress who could do justice to both commercial and parallel cinema.. She did many path-breaking roles like inAmma, Jait Re Jait, Bhumika, Arth, Mandi, Aj Ki Aawaz, Hansa Wadkar...which she could easily balance with commercial money-spinners like  a Namak Halal or Shakti.

How did Smita Patil and Raj Babbar romance begin? 

Raj and Smita’s first meeting ended with a clash but little did they know that their fight would later on lay the foundation for their controversial yet everlasting relationship. Raj was instantly impressed by her carefree or Mizaazwaali (as he puts up) approach towards life.

From there on, they got deeply involved with each other and soon got married that resulted in public backlash and much criticism since Raj was already married to Nadira Babbar (they met while studying in National School of Drama and within six months of their courtship, the two were wedded off) and had two kids: Juhi and Aarya respectively. Smita and Raj Babbar did lot of movies together like-Bheegi Palkein , Angaaarey, Jawaab,Tajurba, Awam.

While summing up in his own words, Raj had revealed, ‘Whenever someone asks me to talk about Smita Patil, I become emotional and her whole life comes alive in front of my eyes. Every little thing she said or did, and how she looked at me when she first met me… And when the time came for her to say goodbye to the world.’

Smita’s struggle

Despite of the immutable criticisms, Smita went ahead and did all that her love for Raj made her do. Her parents were dead against her plans to marry Raj, and become the ‘other woman’ in his life. But Smita was wholly consumed in the affair and even described it as a “painful” trip since insecurity always remained a constant in their lives. In an intimate interview she once disclosed, “In the kind of situation we are involved in right now, both of us are going through a private hell. It’s very easy to say it’s okay. But it’s not very easy in reality. Both of us have our moments of happiness, loneliness, truth, etc. She [Nadira] must be going through a lot of loneliness and trauma herself. But she has her home and children and it will always be secure, because Raj looks after them very well. He is a very fair person. Since she is so talented and creative I believe she must be a very fine person.” Smita always wanted to endure the feeling of motherhood but her dream did not last long since she faced serious child birth complications just a week after her and Raj’s son, Prateik was born. The complications resulted in her untimely death leaving aside her long lost desire of motherhood. Soon after her sudden demise, Raj went back to his first wife Nadira while his newborn baby was sent to his maternal grandparents.

Raj Babbar’s first wife-Nadira Babbar’s reaction to the affair:

Nadira was a dutiful wife who completely supported Raj in whatever he chose to do including his involvement with the woman outside his marriage. She had her own dues of backlashes stored in, with people calling her doormat for accepting her husband back, after his pompous affair with Smita. She took him back for she never wanted to spoil her childrens’ upbringing and give them a healthy life. Nadira was even seen attending Smita’s funeral along with her children, Juhi and Aarya to pay their last respects.

She once revealed, ‘I was ridiculed for going to her place [after Smita’s demise]. Mujhe bahut afsos, bahut taqleef hui thi for her mother, her family, for the child… She [Smita] had her dreams and wishes. It’s sad she couldn’t live those. The grief of her passing away became larger than any other sorrow. It left everyone broken. It broke us all – Raj, Prateik, her parents and somewhere, me too… It was a bad time.”

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