SRK keeps promise to Gangtok boy - Deepraj gets car gift from superstar

Deepraj, at the Hyundai showroom in Gangtok on Monday, sits in the car gifted by Shah Rukh Khan. Picture by Prabin Khaling

Nirmal Mangar, TT, Gangtok, March 11: Shah Rukh Khan has kept his promise to 12-year-old Deepraj Rai.

The superstar had said he would to gift the first runner-up of India’s Got Talent a car when the boy said he wanted to buy one for his father, a state government driver.

“I heard from Kirron Kher (one of the judges on the show) about your desire to buy a car for your father. If you don’t mind, I would like to step in and gift a vehicle to you,” said Shah Rukh, just after Deepraj’s performance in the grand finale in Mumbai on November 25 last year.

That car, a Hyundai Eon, Deepraj got today. The local Hyundai showroom called the Rais up yesterday and told Dilip, the boy’s father, that the car was ready for delivery.

Deepraj, who without any formal training in music had become the first runner-up, was studying. On hearing the news, Dilip said, his son threw his books and started jumping in joy. Deepraj, who studies in Class V at the Sai Gurukul Academy in Gangtok, ran out to tell his friends: “Shah Rukh uncle has kept his promise.” 

The boy had sung Tu na jaane aas paas hai khuda (film Anjaana Anjaani) in the grand finale of India’s Got Talent and won Rs 5 lakh.

Deepraj had said on the show “I want my father to have his own car”, when asked by one of the anchors what his dream was.

Today, when the car arrived and Deepraj was given the keys — it is a white D Lite — the boy thanked Shah Rukh “uncle”. “My father drives a government vehicle and runs a family. I always wanted to become a good singer and buy a good car for him. I am very happy that my dream has been fulfiled so early. It is all because of Shah Rukh uncle.”

Dilip, who is a driver for the department of urban development and housing, said: “There are no words to describe how we feel right now. In our wildest dreams we had not thought that Deepraj’s car would come so soon. Shah Rukh Khan has kept his promise. He is a superstar above all and he has proved that he is a man who never breaks his promise.”

Asked which Shah Rukh film was his favourite, Deepraj named Chak De India.

Dilip said Shah Rukh’s office had called from Mumbai last month to tell him that the car would reach them soon.

Karma Bhutia, the sales manager of the Hyundai showroom in Gangtok, said: “We had received a mail from the head office in Mumbai in the mid-week of February to deliver the car to Deepraj. We could not deliver the car earlier as the model which Shah Rukh had requested for was not available at that time.”

The finalist’s 14-year-old sister, Dipika Rai, said: “I am very happy for my brother and I am looking forward to taking a family drive in the car.”