Mumbai, Oct 17 (NationPress) Actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar paid tribute to his late wife Smita Patil on her birth anniversary this Friday.

He shared a captivating photo of the iconic actress on his official Instagram profile, highlighting how Smita leveraged cinema as a means to instigate societal change, perpetually challenging conventions and dismantling stereotypes.

In his heartfelt message on the photo-sharing platform, he stated, "Smita consciously utilized her cinematic journey as a platform for transformation. Her roles courageously questioned societal norms and tore down stereotypes. Her adeptness with intricate characters and her profound grasp of narratives intertwined with our social fabric distinguished her. (sic)"

Praising her brief but remarkable cinematic legacy, Babbar remarked, "She accomplished so much in the fleeting time that fate allowed. The shortness of her life remains an enduring sorrow. On her birth anniversary, I cherish the memory of Smita Patil."

For those unfamiliar, Smita was wed to actor Raj Babbar, with whom she had a son, actor Prateik Smita Patil. Tragically, she passed away on December 13, 1986, at the age of 31 due to complications from childbirth. More than ten of her films debuted posthumously.

In recent news, Prateik made headlines by removing Babbar from his name and adopting his late mother's surname, becoming Prateik Smita Patil.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, the 'Chhichhore' actor addressed the reasons behind his name change.

He remarked, "There’s nothing strange about adopting your mother’s name. Why should anyone be surprised? I’ve embraced my mother’s name—there’s absolutely no reason for surprise—she is my mother, after all."

Additionally, Prateik did not invite his paternal relatives to his wedding with Priya Banerjee in February this year. However, he and his new wife were spotted posing alongside a large portrait of his mother during the celebration.