Mumbai, Jan. 28 -- Actor Riteish Deshmukh on Wednesday condoled the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, stating that the untimely demise of the NCP chief had left him "deeply shocked" and "heartbroken."

Deshmukh, who knew the late leader personally, took to social media to mourn the loss of one of the state's most influential political figures.

"Deeply shocked and terribly heartbroken to learn that we have lost Ajit Dada in a tragic accident. One of Maharashtra's most dynamic leaders, he had zero tolerance for non-performance and constantly pushed and inspired those around him to excel," he wrote on X.

"He never minced his words, his wit was unmatched, and he was deeply loved across the state. His untimely demise lea...