Prateik Babbar on actors being asked to seek spouse’s permission for intimate scenes: It’s wrong, Aap mere maa-baap ho?

Prateik Babbar has responded to the recent debate around whether an actor should seek permission from their partner before working on an intimate scene onscreen. He said that couples should have a conversation about what they are doing, but seeking permission would be wrong. During the promotions of Gehraiyaan, Deepika Padukone was asked about online comments asking if she sought permission from her husband, actor Ranveer Singh. (Also read: Siddhant Chaturvedi reacts to comments that he, Deepika Padukone should’ve got Ranveer Singh’s permission for Gehraiyaan)

In Gehraiyaan, Deepika essays the role of a yoga instructor, who is in an unhappy relationship and gets into an affair with her cousin’s fiance (Siddhant Chaturvedi). Directed by Shakun Batra, the film starred Ananya Panday as Deepika’s cousin and Dhairya Karwa as Deepika’s boyfriend.

Asked whether one should seek permission from the spouse, Prateik told Etimes that it can vary from person to person, and for him, it is important to have a conversation about it. “I don’t think there’s a permission that needs to be involved. Maybe actresses like that exist who have to take permission from their spouses. In my opinion, I think it’s wrong. Because the spouse needs to respect what the other spouse is doing.” He added that spouses must understand the demands of the careers of their respective partners. “This comes with the territory, being an artist or actor. Communication is the key. You must have a conversation about it, you must be on the same page. But taking permission?”

He further said, “Aap meri maa ho? Aap mere baap ho (Are you my mom or dad)? I absolutely disagree with the fact that I have to take permission. I do agree and firmly stand for having a conversation about it. Kaun hote ho aap muje dene ko permission? Mera career hain, apne pairon pe khade hokar hum kaam karte hai. Main apne baap se permission nahi leta (Who are you to give me permission? It is my career that I built and I work on my own. I do not seek even from my father). Pardon my language. I don’t expect my partner to ask me for permission, definitely expect to have a conversation about it. Permission is, I think, a wrong word.”

Prateik also said that permission may be involved in relationships wherein people are frightened about their partner and such relationship won’t go anywhere. Let me give you valid information that a relationship like that is going nowhere. It would be destroyed in no time and become toxic in no time.

When Deepika was asked about the online comments, she told Bollywood Bubble ahead of the release of Gehraiyaan, “It’s stupid that we are even reacting to it. I don’t read comments. I’m pretty certain he doesn’t. I think yuck, it’s so stupid.” She added that Ranveer was “extremely proud” of her performance in the film.