“As a young man, he sold his wedding ring to buy books. Studied under street lamps. Self-taught. Ignited by creativity he forayed into films. Aap Ki Kasam and 22 more jubilee films brought him name and fame. But his greatest work was love. Here he is at 92. My greatest teacher. My Deda.” That was Hrithik Roshan gushing over his maternal granddad, J Om Prakash, who celebrated his 92 nd birthday yesterday.
The Greek god-like Hrithik, who happens to also be a huge family man, treated the world to glimpses of the party held for their grand old man, along with parents Rakesh Roshan and Pinky Roshan, sister Sunaina Roshan, kids Hrehaan and Hridhaan, and needless to add, ex-wife Sussanne Khan, who is nearly always a part of the family’s get-togethers.
Hrithik has always been very close to his maternal grandfather and has often spoken about his love for him. In fact, two years ago he had given his Deda, as he calls him, an adorable surprise: the car of his dreams!
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Apparently Hrithik was aware that his grandpa had a deep fondness for a particular model of a luxury automobile brand (Mercedes Benz). He decided to surprise him by gifting him the very same car. And he had revealed his surprise in style too: asking his grandad to come over to his residence, and there was the brand new car parked right outside the house! The cutest thing about that entire episode? That it was just a gift from the heart, and didn’t mark any specific occasion. No wonder the veteran filmmaker was teary-eyed all through that special ride in his swish new set of wheels!
Hrithik is also a huge admirer of his granddad, who produced a clutch of successful films in the Sixties, before directing hits like Aap Ki Kasam, Apnapan (1977), Aasha (1980), Apna Bana Lo (1982), Aakhir Kyon? And Aadmi Khilona Hai.