When Raj Babbar revealed he was smitten by Smita Patil from their very first meeting: ‘She did not seem to care about..’

Raj Babbar was one of the top actors of the 1970s. Known for his strong performances and striking screen presence, he made a mark not just in Hindi films but in Punjabi cinema and on television too. But beyond his successful career, it was his personal life, and especially his bond with actress Smita Patil, that often made headlines.

Let’s look back at the moment when Raj Babbar first met Smita Patil and how that meeting changed everything for him.

When Raj Babbar met Smita Patil

Raj Babbar and Smita Patil first worked together in the 1980 film Bheegi Palkein. But according to Raj, their first meeting actually happened before that—on the sets of the same film in Rourkela, Odisha.


In a note published on Rediff in 2006, Raj opened up about how it all began. He said, “I met her for the first time in Rourkela in Orissa, where we had gone to shoot Satish Misra's film Bheegi Palken. Our first meeting ended in a sort of clash — a sweet clash that laid the foundation of a relationship later.”

Even though their meeting began with a bit of a disagreement, something about Smita Patil left a strong impression on Raj. He added, “She was there with her assistant. I was impressed by her from the word go. She did not seem to care about people around her, and refused to acknowledge the presence of many. I would say that she was a bit mizaazwali (this is being said with all the respect and humility towards her). But that was the impression I got from our first meeting on the sets.”

A short-lived marriage

In 1983, Raj Babbar and Smita Patil got married. Though their relationship had already faced a lot of judgement, the couple stayed strong. Their love story took a new turn in 1986 when they welcomed their son, Prateik Babbar. Sadly, their happiness did not last long. On 13 December 1986, just 15 days after giving birth to their baby boy, Smita Patil passed away due to complications related to childbirth. Her sudden death left not just Raj Babbar, but the entire film industry and fans in shock.