Prateik
has
gotten
over
his
chicken
pox
attack.
The
young
actor
is
back
on
his
feet.
And
how!
Back
from
the
shooting
of
Rohan
Sippy's
Dum
Maro
Dum,
he's
busy
being
rigorously
trained
in
Western
dance
forms
under
Sandip
Soparkar.
Prateik
goes
on
stage
for
a
charity
show
in
aid
of
destitute
kids
this
week
where
he'll
dance
like
there's
no
tomorrow.
Confirming
these
developments,
Prateik's
aunt
Manya
Patil
says,
"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."
Continues
the
proud
aunt,
"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."
Says
his
proud
and
protective
aunt,
"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."
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.
Says
his
aunt,
"Prateik
saw
Chakra
and
said
he
liked
his
Naseer
Uncle
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
is
making
more
money
than
most
actors
of
his
age,
thanks
to
the
upswing
in
his
career.
But
he
still
gets
the
same
pocket
money
at
home
that
he
did
before
he
became
an
actor.
Not
a
penny
more
not
a
penny
less!
Says
his
aunt,
"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."
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.
Says
Manya,
"To
me
there's
no
difference
between
Prateik
and
my
biological
son
Kail." Kail
who's
studying
in
New
York
is
approximately
a
year
younger
than
Prateik.
The
two
cousins
share
everything
from
confidences
to
clothes.
"I've
never
felt
any
difference
in
my
feelings
for
Kail
and
Prateik,"
says
Manya
Patil
emotionally.
Story first published: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 10:28 [IST]