Mumbai Aug 17 (IANS) Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has mourned the death of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying he has lost a part of his childhood and growing up memories.
The 93-year-old leader who had faded from public life for more than a decade following health complications died at the national capital s AIIMS where he was admitted for the past nine weeks.
An emotional Shah Rukh tweeted: "My father used to take me for every speech that Vajpayee made in Delhi when I was growing up.
"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."
The "Chennai Express" star said Vajpayee was fondly addressed as Baapji at his home.
"The country lost a father-figure and a great leader. Personally I have lost a part of my childhood and growing up memories of learning smiling and of course poetry " he added.
The 52-year-old actor said he considered himself the "luckiest to have had Vajpayee s influence" on his life during his "formative years".
"May his soul rest in peace. Will miss your smiling face Baapji " he said.

--IANS dc/rb/in