Son's Bollywood debut keeps CM busy

MUMBAI: Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has been especially busy these days. Besides managing the drought situation, the deteriorating state economy and a crippling power shortage in rural Maharashtra, he is now required to make a success of the Hindi film, .
The reason? His son, Ritesh, is making his debut in the extravaganza.
Mr Deshmukh''s other son, Amit, seems more involved with setting up sugar factories in the cooperative sector in his father''s home base, Latur, and there are indications that he will follow his father into politics.But Ritesh, an architecture student, has decided to forego the rough and tumble of Maharashtra politics for the charms of Bollywood.
The Deshmukh family is pulling out all stops to ensure that the movie,which pairs Ritesh with newcomer Genelia D''Souza, is a hit. Mantralaya officials are also doing their bit to make a box-office success. The film is produced by Ramoji Rao and directed by noted Telugu film director Vijaya Bhaskar.
The CM''s public relations officials have been doling out free passes to mediapersons for the movie, which was released on Thursday. Congressmen seemed very excited about the film and many had bought tickets for the first day, first show. One party activist took a trip on Tuesday to the Siddhi Vinayak temple to implore Lord Ganesh to make the movie a success.
Police inspectors and ward officers are reportedly also encouraging their friends and contractors to watch the film. Cable TV operators have been warned against showing pirated versions of the movie. There has been a barrage of television promos, while billboards for the film have sprouted across the city.
The film''s premiere at the Imax Adlabs multiplex on Thursday was attended, among others, by film star Amitabh Bachchan, AICC general secretary Vayalar Ravi, director general of police Subhash Malhotra, HDFC chief Deepak Parekh and politician Amar Singh.