In the early 1960s, a young and handsome student in PuneUniversity harboured a secret ambition: to become a star in Bollywood. Over theyears, the Bollywood dreams of Vilasrao Dagadoji Deshmukh crumbled although heresembled an upcoming star of those times, Shatrughan Sinha, and whose dialoguedelivery he imitated to regale friends.
Instead, Deshmukh became a rising star in politics, startingwith his native Latur district. The double graduate-cum-lawyer became one ofthe youngest sarpanches at age 29 in 1974.
He had to battle huge odds but there was no looking backafter that. A Congress loyalist, he went on to become Maharashtra chiefminister twice and union minister too.
"I have achieved all this despite powerful politicalopponents," Deshmukh once told this writer, naming Sharad Pawar, soonafter he was sworn-in the second time as the Maharashtra chief minister in2004.
The kind of hate-hate relationship Deshmukh-Pawar had allthese years -- both ambitious Marathas, hailing from the backward Marathwadaand the prosperous western Maharashtra respectively - is hardly a secret.
Winning all elections from 1980, barring in the 1995 assemblypolls owing to suspected sabotage by party bigwigs, Deshmukh started hisministerial stint from 1982 and held all important portfolios.
Despite having been written off after his defeat in 1995,when the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance swept to power, Deshmukh made a sensationalcomeback in 1999 winning with the highest margin in the state.
When Sharad Pawar quit the Congress to form the NationalistCongress Party, the party was desperate for a strong leader as the next chiefminister. The mantle fell on Deshmukh who ruled Maharashtra from 1999 to 2003.
Even after he was moved to national politics as Congressgeneral secretary, Deshmukh's heart beat only for his home state. TheLatur-born wanted to move back to Mumbai.
The opportunity came in 2004 when he bounced back as chiefminister. He held the reins till he resigned following the 2008 Mumbai terrorattack by Pakistani terrorists.
It was as culture minister that Deshmukh acquired a love forthe fine arts, music, dance, movies and drama, which remained his passion tillthe end.
He was once asked why so many Bollywood personalitiescrowded his office and residence. Deshmukh replied: "Most of them wantland somewhere or the other. If their case is genuine, the government considersit."
A few years later, his name was dragged into a landallotment row involving filmmaker Subhash Ghai.
During his tenure as chief minister, among the longest by aCongress leader, Deshmukh always ensured a couple of important cultural itemson his official menu.
Though he was never identified as a member of any groupwithin the Congress, he was great friends with the late Madhavrao Scindia, whomhe considered as among his mentors.
When Scindia was killed in a plane crash, Deshmukh was atthe Hyderabad airport lounge.
As he got the news, he broke down.
During the flight back home in a small aircraft, herecounted several treasured encounters he had with Scindia.
Over the years, Deshmukh had his share of politicalcontroversies, land scams and accusations of misusing his position. In 2009, asthe Congress returned to power again nationally, he became a part of theManmohan Singh government.
According to his close friends, it was last year that hisillness and its implications were detected. He started taking precautions,including lighter assignments.
A matter of pride for him was his son Riteish, who fulfilledhis dream of becoming a Bollywood star and later married Genelia D'Souza, anupcoming actress.
His friends hail Deshmukh for his contribution in promotingarts and culture, the co-operative movement, education and strengthening theadministration especially in rural areas.
He would always say that he wanted to make Maharashtra thenumero uno state in India, and dreamt of making Mumbai a Shanghai.
The 67-year-old died in a Chennai hospital Tuesday... thatdream forever incomplete.
