Actor-filmmaker
Riteish Deshmukh paid a heartfelt tribute to his late father and former
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on his birth anniversary on Tuesday, sharing an emotional family moment on social media.
In a post shared on Instagram, Riteish, accompanied by his wife Genelia Deshmukh and their children, was seen offering prayers before a floral memorial dedicated to the late leader.
The actor captioned the post: "Happy Birthday, Pappa! Words can't express how much we miss you. Life is forever incomplete. #vilasraodeshmukh"
The tribute quickly drew reactions from members of the film industry, followers, and admirers of Vilasrao Deshmukh, with many sharing messages of respect and remembrance.
Recently, Riteish and Genelia were appointed as brand ambassadors for the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation's public awareness initiatives aimed at strengthening awareness around the Road Safety Campaign.
The announcement was made during an agreement handover ceremony organised by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and the Transport Department.
On the professional front, Riteish has been celebrating the success of his historical epic 'Raja Shivaji', which has emerged as the highest-grossing Marathi film, surpassing the lifetime box office collection of 'Sairat.'
Released on May 1, the film has reportedly earned Rs 114.8 crore globally.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared on his X handle that the film recorded the biggest opening day ever for a Marathi film.
According to the reported figures, the movie collected Rs 12.40 crore on its opening day, followed by Rs 11.50 crore on Saturday, taking its opening weekend total to Rs 23.90 crore.
Directed by Riteish Deshmukh, the film features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Bhagyashree and Genelia Deshmukh.
The cast also includes Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi and Amole Gupte. A special appearance by Salman Khan has also received enthusiastic responses from audiences.
The film additionally marks the acting debut of Riteish and Genelia's son, Rahyl. Cinematography by Santosh Sivan and music by Ajay-Atul have been widely appreciated for enhancing the film's scale and cinematic presentation.