Click to play videoHe was a pleasant surprise in last year's Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na stealing every one of the five scenes he appeared in. Twenty-two-year-old Prateik Babbar, son of the late actress Smita Patil and Raj Babbar, clearly has acting in his genes. Next up he will play the lead in Kiran Rao's Dhobi Ghaat and more than likely he won't be over-shadowed by the presence of Aamir Khan in the film. Prateik, who is at the cusp of an exciting breakthrough in films, is CNN-IBN Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand's choice for the Next Big Thing.
Rajeev Masand: Prateik we saw you first in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and it's interesting because despite your pedigree, the first time we see you in a film is as the heroine's brother. Did you know always that Amit was going to be this engaging, lovable character that stays in peoples' memories? It was a very small part wasn't it?
Prateik Babbar: It was. I had no clue actually how they wanted to portray the character on screen in terms of like the costume and the get up. I was doing a lot of production work before that with Mr Prahlad Kakkar and he actually happened to send me to this audition. So I went and I did it and I nailed it. They liked me and that was that. I knew Imran from before - we have a lot of common friends - so I was like, 'hey why not'. Let's go have some fun on the sets.
Rajeev Masand: You know Amit is this slacker kid. He's a painter, but he is pretty much a slacker kid. He doesn't do much and just gives out these really funny lines. I think that's what people remember from your character in the film. My favourite is the one where your sister - played by Genelia D'Souza - asks you 'can I come and sit down' and you say, 'Tera ghar, tere bums'. Take us through what it was like doing the film. Were these lines written for you? Were these your own lines?
Prateik Babbar: On no, no, no. This was all Abbas and his genius. It was a ball though. Abbas let us do our thing, but in case we got out of hand, he would tell us what to do.
Rajeev Masand: When did you first know you wanted to act?
Prateik Babbar: I think after Donny Brasco. It was when I wanted to become an actor. Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. I was like this is what I want to do and this is what I can do. There was Donny Brasco, there was The Good Fellas, there were so many Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino films. I think they just did it for me. I was like that is just what I want to do now.
Rajeev Masand: Were there Hindi films that inspired you in your growing up years?
Prateik Babbar: Yes, yes. A lot of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan films. I think Main Khiladi Tu Anari and god, there were so many. I think Main Khiladi Tu Anari was like my favourite film.
Rajeev Masand: And you must have been really young when they came out.
Prateik Babbar: I was and I am still as big a fan of Akshay and Saif as I was then.
Rajeev Masand: Tell me how did your dad take to your decision to act.
Prateik Babbar: I told him that I wanted to act but I think he wanted me to wait till I was a little more mature - maybe 23 or 24. But I was getting impatient. I wanted to do something with my life, I wanted to go ahead, I wanted to stand on my own two feet and get that satisfaction of working. So ya, I did the film and then informed dad that I had done the film and he was really, really upset, but then he was really supportive afterward, which is sweet of him.
Rajeev Masand: You were very young when your mother passed. I am guessing that most of your impressions of her are based on the memories of other and the films you saw of her.
Prateik Babbar: I think sometimes she is just this imaginary person. I think now I know a little about her from her films and what people like Naseer sir have told me about her. I keep hearing things about her everyday and about her sisters. So I do know a bit about her - she was a great human being and a very dedicated actress, you know just a great person at heart and that reflected in her movies I think.
Rajeev Masand: What are your favourite films of your mother's?
Prateik Babbar: There was Chakra which I really liked. The way she portrayed her character was so real. I think Naseer sir was brilliant in that film as well. He was like wow. Then there is Mirch Masala in which you see a lot of attitude and she plays with her eyes a lot. Then there is Namak Halal, Shakti. She had this really sweet aura, something that really comforted you.
Rajeev Masand: Is there some film that you saw recently that made you go, 'I wish I was in this'.
Prateik Babbar: Oh yes, two films. There was Rock On and there was Dev D. These were like wow and I can just imagine myself in these films. I am sure I would have nailed a part in them.
Rajeev Masand: Well, best of luck. Looking forward to seeing lots more exciting stuff from you. Hopefully you are going to keep surprising us as you did in your first film.
Prateik Babbar: Thank you Rajeev for having me on your show.
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