Prateik Smita Patil opens up about finding love after failed first marriage, how he met wife and ‘best friend' Priya Banerjee: ‘Yeh lockdown ka pyaar hai'

Indian Express

20-05-2025

Prateik Smita Patil is in a happy space. In a similar vein, the Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na actor opened up about finding love again in his best friend Priya Banerjee, whom he married on February 14 this year. 'Goddesses have blessed me with this beautiful chapter in my life. I am extremely grateful and happy. I am loved. I have a beautiful family, a beautiful wife, and two beautiful dogs who are my children. My wife calls them our nepo kids. I am looking forward to every day with her. I can't wait to wake up every day next to her. We are literally best friends. I am so lucky that I got to marry my best friend. We have so much fun. Friendships have a different kind of fun. I think we have the best of both worlds,' shared Prateik, 38.
The actor, who was married to actor Sanya Sagar, admitted 'giving it all' in his first marriage and how divorce left him heartbroken and bitter. 'I was extremely bitter about love and marriage. So strange. I was very angry at my situation, and I was very vengeful. Out of vengeance, I ended up following thousands of pretty women on Instagram. I was like, I was so good in my marriage…why did divorce happen…now, let me show,' he said, adding Priya happened to be one of them.
'We happened to follow each other. For the first few months, we didn't really strike up a conversation. Finally, I had the courage to reply to her Story, which is when we ended up conversing. Next thing I know, I have asked for a drive, and the next thing, we ended up going for a drive. We started meeting every day, and the rest is history. And now we are married.'
According to Prateik's candid chat with Bollywood Bubble, it was 'divine timing when Priya and I met'. 'I wasn't looking for it, and neither was she. We met. We were meant to meet. I don't think it would have worked out if we had met earlier. She has just broken off her engagement. At the same time, I was going through a divorce. We happened to meet in lockdown. Yeh lockdown ka pyaar hai. Bilkul. (It is Covid-19 pandemic lockdown love, for sure). For a lot of people, lockdown didn't go well, but I found love, and we were engaged. It happened so organically.'
When did he realise Priya was the one? 'As cheesy as it may sound, our first kiss was when I realised she was the trouble. Game over. This is it. There is no game to play anymore. We started dating and eventually started living together. For a year. I always knew it was nothing like what I experienced ever before. Also, we were older. I was 33.5 when I met her. In the first few months, I knew it was extremely special. Our connection and our friendship are so unique. It was so easy and organic,' he expressed.
When it had been a year of living together, 'and we had survived, without killing each other', Prateik said they 'adjusted to each other's habits, we adjusted to each other's lifestyles and choti choti cheezein (little things) that in the grand scheme of things are extremely important…everything just fit'.
He also expressed that they are very much alike. 'Holly molly, we are so compatible. We like the same kind of food, same kind of shows, love for dogs, both extremely lazy people. Few things we were polar opposites were music and a few more things which we could find a way around.'
He also opened up about finding comfort in her. 'We are homebodies. Pajame me baithte din bhar and shows dekhte rehte hai on our offs (We dress up in pajamas and watch shows on our offs) . We would rather be lazy than proactive. We are a bad influence on each other like that, cutely. Not a bad way. In my head, I am like..this is so easy with her…'.
Taking a leaf out of his love story, let's understand how finding love again with a partner with similar likes and outlook on life feeds your soul.
Finding love again with someone who shares your values, interests, and outlook on life can bring happiness and gratification, said Dr Santosh Bangar, senior consultant psychiatrist, Gleneagles Hospitals, Parel, Mumbai.
Dr Bangar described how it may feel like meeting a version of yourself who understands your inner world without explanation or clarification. 'Conversations may flow naturally, silence may feel comfortable and shared goals create a sense of purpose and happiness. When your partner reflects your passions and priorities, it helps with personal growth. This connection nourishes the soul, brings peace, joy, and a sense of belonging,' said Dr Bangar.
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Everyone wishes to have a partner whose goals align with theirs. If you find someone like this, you should consider yourself extremely lucky.