Lights, camera, ballot! Bringing glamour to the 2024 parliamentary elections are these six famous personalities who are standing for the upcoming polls from various rural constituencies in India.
People from the glamorous arenas of life, namely sports and movies, have for long been a draw for the masses. Little wonder then that political parties like to bring in these larger-than-life figures into their midst, to benefit from their star power and get the voters to elect them. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections, being held from April 19 to June 1 in seven phases, are no different. Several big names from Bollywood and other film industries, and even cricket, have been declared as candidates by various political parties. Their appeal? Not just electoral promises, but the lure of past laurels from their life in the public eye. Fair or foul… you decide. Either way, it’s a case of lights, camera, ballot!
She’s made a name for herself in woman-centric plots in Bollywood. Now Kangana Ranaut has her eye on another kind of leading role – one where she leads the people. The outspoken actor will make her electoral debut on a BJP ticket from the Mandi constituency in Himachal Pradesh. Her decision to contest the polls has been met with both support and criticism. Now let’s see if Ranaut has the same effect on polling booths that she has on the box office.
The famous former cricketer, brother of commentator and ex-cricketer Irfan Pathan, is making his political debut on a Trinamool Congress ticket from Baharampur West in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. Known for some hard knocks played out at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, Pathan made his international cricket debut against Pakistan in 2007. Though he hails from Gujarat, he strikes a chord with Bengal natives because of the role he played in enabling IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to win the tournament back in 2012.
The ‘dream girl’ of Bollywood is more than just a pretty face. She has stood for elections from her constituency in Mathura twice already, as a BJP leader. This will be her third time in polls from the same constituency of Uttar Pradesh, making her a seasoned politician. That said, a recent poll campaign of hers came under scrutiny after she appeared posing with farmers in fields, with some questioning the authenticity of such posts. In another pre-poll fracas, a Congress MP landed in trouble for derogatory remarks he made about the actor-turned-politician. All’s not fair in love and politics!
Popular Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan will once again contest for a seat in parliament from his constituency in Gorakhpur, a seat he has held since 2019 on a BJP ticket. This is the same seat Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had held till 2017. The actor was recently seen in the movie Laapata Ladies, and continues to be a crowd-puller at the box office.
Also Read: Watched Laapataa Ladies? Here are 5 other hit films shot in MP
Malayalam cinema’s Suresh Gopi, often seen essaying the role of an angry cop, is contesting this year’s parliamentary elections from Thrissur on a BJP ticket. He was a nominated Rajya Sabha MP in 2016, and also fought 2019’s Lok Sabha elections from the same seat. The actor rose to fame in the 1990s giving back-to-back hits at the box office, and is also a prominent philanthropist in Kerala.
Nicknamed ‘Shotgun’ Sinha for his outspoken manner, the famous actor Shatrughan Sinha is standing for elections from the Asansol constituency in West Bengal on a Trinamool Congress ticket. Before this Sinha was a member of the BJP (from 1980), and commentators hail him for his experience in the political arena. He was Minister of Health and Family Welfare in 2002 and Minister for Shipping in 2003.
Will his charisma continue to charm voters in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections? Well, how many of these celebrities join the 543-member Lok Sabha in its 18th term, will be clear when the results are announced on June 4.
The lead image at the top shows (from left) Yusuf Pathan, Kangana Ranaut and Suresh Gopi. (Photos from Facebook and Shutterstock)
