Raj Babbar met late actress Smita Patil on the sets of 1982 film ‘Bheegi Palkein’ and this was the time their romance started making headline even when the actor-politician was already married to Nadira that time. 

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In an interview with Times of India few years back, Raj Babbar opened up about his relationship with Smita Patil.

“Smita entered my life unexpectedly. When I met Smita Patil for the first time, I realised there was depth to her character. She was generally very friendly and sought my advice once in a while. Gradually, we formed an intimate bond.

“My relationship with Smita was not the result of problems with Nadira – it just happened. Nadira was mature enough to understand my feelings. Juhi (second child) always loved being with Smita,” he said, reports The Indian Express.

The two then decided to get married. Smita Patil and Raj Babbar’s initial months of marriage were far from rosy, as she had to bear the tag of being called a ‘homebreaker’. Their child Prateik Babbar was born in 1986. Unfortunately, Smita died due to childbirth complications at the age of 31.

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Raj Babbar later told TOI, “Smita left me forever. I was traumatised by her death. But I didn’t want my problems to affect the lives of those who counted on me. I sought refuge in my work, but the wounds took time to heal.”

Raj Babbar’s ex-wife Nadira accepted him again and told Filmfare that she forgave everything. “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,” she said.

Nadira added that “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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In her brief life span of 31 years, and acting career which lasted about a decade, Smita Patil acted in over 80 films and established herself as one of the leading actors in the industry. 

Some of her remarkable films include ‘Arth’, ‘Akrosh’, ‘Mirch Masala’ and  ‘Nishant’.