MUMBAI: Veteran actor Deepak Gheewala, who is currently playing the popular Bapuji in Rajan Shahi’s Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke, had an amazing connection with late superstar Sanjeev Kumar, who was also known as Hari Bhai.

Speaking about their long association, Deepakji shares, 'We go a long way. In the sixties, we used to be a part of a famous Gujrati play titled Maare Judaa Thavu Chhe. It was a big hit. Sanjeev Kumar and I shared a great rapport. We both belong to Surat, and I remember he used to like my mother’s cooking, especially khandvi and dhokla. Sanjeev Kumar was a genius who left us early. I have learned a lot from him. In the initial years of his career, he had a tough time and saw a lot of hardship. He used to live in a chawl in Bhuleshwar. 1967 onwards, he started getting work, and what a talented actor he was. The list of memorable films he acted in is endless: Koshish, Sholay, Angoor, Grihpravesh, and Pati Patni Aur Woh are only few. One can learn a lot of acting skills by just observing him. After he passed away, there was a void in my life. One principle that I always followed in our friendship was I have never asked for any kind of favour from him. That was the reason our relationship never had a problem.'

Apart from Sanjeev Kumar, Deepakji has been inspired by Amitabh Bachchan, Balraj Sahni, and Dilip Kumar.

Meanwhile, YRHPK focuses on the new generation's ideologies about age-old societal customs with respect to arranged marriages.