Little did Deepa Behal (51), mother of talented dancer Rohit Behal (24), know that her son who used to groove on peppy numbers would climb success ladder in such a short time and she would get recognition as the ‘Mom of Rohit’.

She could not hold her eye from getting moist when she saw her son sharing the stage with ace Bollywood actress/ dancer Madhuri Dixit and renowned choreographers Terence Lewis and Bosco Martis in the Indian dance reality show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ as a participant.

When asked how it feels to know that her son’s stint with the reality show has not only created a buzz about his dancing flair in the Bollywood Industry but has won every person’s heart, she says promptly: “Words fall short. There can be no greater joy for a mother than to see her child scaling the ladder of success.”

Walking down the memory lane, Deepa says, “It just seems like yesterday when I could see Rohit and my daughter, Ritika, dance on peppy numbers. Seeing their inclination towards dance, I decided to put them in a summer camp. They both picked up dance very well and would dance when ever given chance, however Rohit’s inclination for dancing was stronger.”

“Like any other parents, me and my husband (Harbajan Singh Behal) too wished that our children would complete their education and work in a corporate sector. However, destiny had some other plans, says Deepa with a smile.

“After Rohit completed his graduation in Business Management Studies (BMS) we wanted him to pursue MBA or CA. However, his dream was to pursue dancing and become a dancer. We were taken aback when he told us that he would like to make dancing as his career. We belong to a service oriented family. In addition, with no background in fine arts we were left confused as we did not know if he would be able to create a niche for himself in this competitive field. However, seeing his determination we decided to give him a chance,” said Deepa.

Recalling Rohit’s journey Deepa says, “His journey was tough. He had to travel long distances for his dance classes. Yet, he was determined and would put in minimum of 12 hours of practice every day. In addition, whenever he got chance he would even teach dancing to youngsters. He was determined to make it big and make a name.”

“As parents, we have tried to support him in every possible way. However, it has been his hard work, determination, perseverance and grit which has paid off and he has been lauded and appreciated by the judges at the show and the people. We are all thankful to God for showering blessings on Rohit” says Deepa in a satisfied tone.

When asked what would be her suggestion for parents whose children wish to opt for a non-conventional career, she says, “It is the desire of every parent to see their children do well in their career. It is important that we give our children a chance to pursue their dream and support them in their pursuit. We should not be in a hurry to see good results rather motivate them to reach to their goal. If we do that then sky is the only limit for our kids”, says Deepa before signing off.