Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh became emotional while remembering his father, Vilasrao Deshmukh, at an event in Maharashtra’s Latur. A video of Riteish shedding tears has been circulating on social media.
“It’s been tough since Saheb left us 12 years ago. Sometimes, the pain resurfaces. He used to shine, and even now, his glow remains. This brightness never fades. He stayed strong so that we, his children, could stand tall. Not just for ourselves, but for the responsibilities that come with being his children. Though he’s not physically here, his love for us is evident, shining brightly on this stage,” said Riteish Deshmukh, as quoted by India Today.
Riteish Deshmukh also expressed gratitude to his uncle Dilip Deshmukh for always supporting their family. “Though I’ve never told my uncle this, today I want to express in front of everyone that I love him very much,” said the actor. He praised the relationship between an uncle and his nephew, evident on the stage.
According to The Indian Express, Riteish advised his brother, Congress MLA Amit Deshmukh, to make a decision amidst speculation about his political future. “I urge you to make a decision. Latur and Maharashtra have high hopes from you,” said Riteish Deshmukh, concluding his speech.
The speculation around Amit Deshmukh’s decision is noteworthy, given recent departures of senior Congress leaders like Ashok Chavan, Baba Siddique, and Milind Deora from the party. While Ashok Chavan joined the BJP, Baba Siddique joined the NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction, and Milind Deora joined the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Baba Siddique’s son, Zeeshan, is the current MLA from Bandra East and is likely to follow his father’s footsteps.
Several dignitaries, including Nana Patole, Prithviraj Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat, attended the event. Vilasrao Deshmukh, born on May 26, 1945, in Latur, served as Maharashtra’s chief minister twice and held ministerial positions in the UPA government under Manmohan Singh’s leadership. He passed away on August 14, 2012.
