Angry Prateik

Actor Prateik's queasy relationship with his father Raj Babbar' is quite well-known in media circles. So much so that he really gets irked if someone addresses him by his full name- Prateik Babbar. His ever alert publicists make it a point to send out a polite word before the start of any event that the actor has to be addressed in public as just Prateik'.

But yesterday at a beauty pageant where Prateik was invited as a judge, the script unfolded in a very dramatic and embarrassing manner. For starters, the emcee of the evening Anusha Dandekar introduced Prateik as Prateik Babbar. Prateik didn't seem to mind it though and our guess is that he must have put it down as an aberration on her part.

Things, however started taking a worse turn when comedian when Sunil Pal entered on stage for his gig. He started well by doling out his usual wisecracks that had the audience in splits. He then did the unthinkable. Turning his attention towards the judging panel, he greeted Prateik as Prateik Babbar. "Hamaare saath baithe hain Prateik Babbar. Inke pitaji ka naam hain Raj Babbar. Toh isko kya kahenge? Babbar Sher." (Seated with us is Prateik Babbar. His father's name is Raj Babbar. So what would call them? Babbar Sher.)

A hushed silenced descended and immediately we could hear some muffled laughter and heavy duty whispering running around. We turned back to look at Prateik and found him shell shocked. The actor had his mouth covered with his palms, his face writhed in disbelief and his eyes screamed "How could you say that, Sunil." While Sunil continued with his act unmindful and unremorseful, Prateik stormed out of the venue and didn't return back to judge the event.

We caught up with Sunil backstage and asked him why he had addressed Prateik by his second name. Sunil expressed his surprise and said that he had absolutely no idea that Prateik didn't like anyone calling him Babbar. "Trust me there was no malice involved. I really had no idea if that's the reason why he left. It was all in good humour."

Well, we will give Sunil the benefit of doubt here though we believe it was joke that was stretched a bit too far this time unintentionally. One man's pleasure can be another man's pain.