In a candid conversation with Bollywood Bubble, actor Prateik Smita Patil addressed longstanding rumours about his sexuality. The actor, who gained attention for portraying a queer character in Cobalt Blue, revealed that many assumed he was gay or bisexual, especially in his early career.
“Back in my 20s, I used to receive a lot of attention from men,” Prateik shared. “It was very direct. After the #MeToo movement, people became more cautious, but before that, it was more open. A lot of gay men thought I was one of them — or at least interested.”
Reflecting on public perception post-Cobalt Blue, he added, “When I did that film in 2022, people just assumed I was bisexual at the very least. Even though times are changing and being queer is widely accepted, it’s still considered taboo in Bollywood. Unlike Hollywood, where everyone is open and confident about their identity, we still have a long way to go here.”
The actor made headlines earlier this year when he tied the knot with Priya Banerjee but did not invite his father, veteran actor Raj Babbar. The move sparked discussions around the Babbar family’s internal dynamics, further intensified after comments by his half-siblings. Prateik later confirmed he had dropped his father’s surname and now goes solely by his mother’s name, Smita Patil.
He was previously married to Sanya Sagar in 2019, but they separated in 2023.
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