Prateik Babbar still gets the same pocket money: aunt

Mumbai, May 2 (IANS) Prateik Babbar is making more money than most guys of his age, but his aunt Manya Patil says that he still gets the same pocket money at home that he did before he became an actor with the hit film 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na'.

'Though Prateik's life as a professional has changed and he's making quite a lot of money, at home we haven't allowed him to acquire any outward signs of his new status. So yes, Prateik still gets the same pocket money that he used to before he became a star,' said Manya.

Son of late actress Smita Patil and actor-politician Raj Babbar, Prateik, 23, is currently busy shooting for his second film 'Dum Maro Dum' and rehearsing in Western dance forms under Sandip Soparrkar.

'Prateik has been practising hard in all the Western dance forms - the Salsa, tango, waltz, you name it. Filmy dancing was one area he was weak in. Now he's making up in that area,' said Manya.

'When Prateik did 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na', he wasn't sure if he was going to be an actor. The aim now is to be a full-on Hindi film hero. But at the same time Prateik is very much grounded to a reality beyond cinema,' she added.

But Manya also wants Prateik to know the world better.

'I take him with me to travel all over the country and outside. I want his world vision to be broadened and to accommodate all kinds of reality not necessarily born from cinema. At home we don't discuss cinema incessantly. Prateik has to understand that there is a vast world outside cinema,' she said.

Not that Prateik hasn't been catching up on movie experiences. He has been avidly watching all the Hindi classics, including his mother Smita Patil's, but sometimes seems to enjoy the performances of other actors more than his mother's.

'Prateik saw 'Chakra' and said he liked his Naseer uncle (Naseeruddin Shah) better than his mom. I looked at him sternly. But he has his own mind. And uses it liberally. He knows exactly what to do.'

Prateik remains close to his mother's family. He apparently shares a far stronger bond with his aunt Manya's son Kail who's studying in New York than his half-brother Arya Babbar.

'To me there's no difference between Prateik and my biological son Kail. Kail is approximately a year younger to Prateik. The two cousins share everything - from confidences to clothes. I've never felt any difference in my feelings for Kail and Prateik,' said Manya.