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The relationship between Bollywood stars and politics is very old. Film stars across the country have joined politics, won elections and held important positions. Film stars like Shatrughan Sinha, Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna and Smriti Irani have held the post of Union Minister. Kirron Kher and Paresh Rawal reached Parliament by joining BJP, while Raj Babbar once led Uttar Pradesh Congress. Amitabh Bachchan was a Congress MP from 1984 to 1986 and an aide of Rajiv Gandhi. So Rajesh Khanna, Govinda, Jaya Bachchan, Jaya Prada, Dharmendra, Hema Malini have also left their mark in central politics.
Kangana Ranaut is the latest film star to jump into that electoral fray. He has contested the elections as a BJP candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha seat of Himachal Pradesh. With Kangana's entry into politics, some Bollywood stars feel that their business and other interests will be at risk.
Meanwhile, Govinda and Shatrughan Sinha have switched their political allegiance from one party to another. Therefore, Kirron Kher is waiting for BJP to declare her as the candidate from Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat.
There are many stories of nexus between the film world and politics. But it can be said that after the year 2014, film stars are ready to take a stand and support their elected politician. Due to this, some film stars have openly come in support of Prime Minister Modi. They have also started talking about nationalism, religion and discontent.
The pair of Nargis and Sunil Dutt received the highest political honour. Nargis was a member of the Rajya Sabha while Sunil Dutt became a member of the Lok Sabha and held the post of minister. In 1984, three years after Nargis's death, Rajiv Gandhi asked Sunil Dutt to contest elections in Mumbai on a Congress ticket. Sunil Dutt won by a huge margin. He campaigned for peace and communal harmony, cancer and HIV patients. His political influence lasted for two decades.
Ramayan serial's Ram Arun Govil enters election battle
Actor Arun Govil, who played the role of Ram in the 1980s TV serial Ramayana, has contested from Meerut Lok Sabha seat as a BJP candidate. Even today he is campaigning in the guise of his character from Ramayana. In 1988, Govinal had campaigned for Congress wearing the costume of Ram. But he could not woo the voters of Allahabad. In 1988, Congress candidate Sunil Shastri lost the election to VP Singh from Allahabad seat.
Clash between 'reel' and 'real'
Parties like BJP, Trinamool, Shiv Sena or Congress have been giving entry into politics to film stars living on gravel roads. Film stars join politics to stay longer in public life. In fact, in India with diversity like race, class, religion, language, film stars become a force to bind everyone together. Sometimes film stars earn applause by providing the public with a better alternative than the average political leader. But film stars fail as soon as they move from reel life to real life. For example, Bollywood stars Dharmendra and his son Bobby Deol won with huge votes, but did not win again. Amitabh left politics in 1986 after the Bofors scam. Shatrughan was also considered a serious politician. Before joining the BJP in 1991, he joined the campaign led by Jayaprakash Narayan. Biharibabu Shatrughan Sinha is currently a candidate from Asansol seat of Bengal. Vinod Khanna also had a dramatic entry into politics
He joined BJP in December 1997. In July 2002, Prime Minister Vajpayee appointed him Minister of State for Culture and Tourism.
Dev Anand regretted setting up a political party
In the 1977 general elections, senior MLA Ram Jethmalani invited actor Dev Anand to join the Janata Party and campaign against Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi. Dev Anand had first thought about this issue. But ultimately he decided that he would share the stage with Morarji Desai and Jayaprakash Narayan. He also gave a short speech condemning Indira Gandhi. But the experience of Janata Party broke his illusion. He had also established his new party. While founding the National Party of India, Dev Anand had said, “If MGR can mesmerize Tamil Nadu, why can't I create a magical effect across the country?” But after some time the party broke up.
