In a heartwarming post on social media, Shah Rukh Khan paid tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee after the former Prime Minister’s death in New Delhi on August 16. Vajpayee, as written by SRK in his message, was fondly addressed as ‘Baapji’ by the 52-year-old actor.

During his childhood, SRK along with his father heard every speech that was delivered by Vajpayee while the actor, in the span of his career, also discussed several subjects including films and politics as he had the “opportunity” to meet him in person.

"Years on, I had the opportunity to meet him and spend lots of time discussing poetry, films, politics, and our ailing knees. I also had the privilege of enacting one of his poems for the screen,” SRK said in his statement while offering his heartfelt condolences.

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SRK's post is extremely emotional while the actor added that he is the ‘luckiest’ to have had interacted with Vajpayee closely.

“Personally, I have lost a part of my childhood and growing up memories of learning smiling and of course poetry. I consider myself the luckiest to have had his influence on my life during my formative years,” SRK added.

His Instagram family is touched and also resonated similar feelings as fans wrote on SRK’s viral post that “India has lost a great leader.”

See SRK’s post for Vajpayee:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmi-kMbjKXo/?taken-by=iamsrk

Apart from SRK, several other celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth and Hrithik Roshan also remembered Vajpayee on Twitter.

Vajpayee died at AIIMS Hospital in the national capital after weeks of being hospitalized. He was 93. He served as the prime minister thrice – for 13 days in 1996 and eleven months from 1998 – 1999. Thereafter, Vajpayee completed his full term till 2004. Apart from his oratory skills, Vajpayee was also celebrated for his poetry.