With voters significantly favouring celebrity faces in this election season, all eyes will be on first-time Members of Parliament (MPs) such as Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil as they take their positions in the 18th Lok Sabha. This phenomenon has also brought back seasoned star-politicians like Hema Malini and Manoj Tiwari to the forefront. Among the 543 members contesting for seats in the lower house of parliament, many hailed from the showbiz industry, marking a unique blend of entertainment and politics.
Kangana Ranaut, a renowned Bollywood actress and a steadfast supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emerged victorious in her maiden political venture. Ranaut won her election from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, her home state, defeating formidable opponents like Vikramaditya Singh, the son of six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, and the state Congress chief Pratibha Singh. Her victory marks a significant political shift and underscores her enduring popularity among the masses.
Famed Ramayan star Arun Govil also made headlines by winning a seat in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Govil triumphed in a closely contested battle against Sunita Yadav of the Samajwadi Party. Govil’s success, along with Ranaut’s, reflects the growing appeal of celebrity candidates in Indian politics.
Adding to the star power, Hema Malini secured her third consecutive term from Mathura, reinforcing her political influence in the region. Likewise, Manoj Tiwari, another BJP stalwart and popular figure, won his third consecutive election from North East Delhi, defeating Congress candidate and youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar. Tiwari’s consistent success highlights the confluence of his political acumen and his mass appeal as an entertainer, making him the sole sitting MP from Delhi retained for the 18th Lok Sabha polls by the BJP.
In tandem with these victories, Telugu actor Ram Charan celebrated his uncle Pawan Kalyan’s win in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections. Kalyan, a highly influential figure and founder of the Jana Sena Party, clinched the Pithapuram seat with a decisive margin of 70,279 votes against Vanga Geetha of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress. Ram Charan took to social media to express his pride: “A proud day for our family! Congratulations to Pawan Kalyan on his phenomenal win,” he wrote. Kalyan, brother to celebrated actor Chiranjeevi and Nagendra Babu, further strengthens his political lineage with this victory, amplified by his party’s alliance with the BJP.
Outside the political arena, Amit Sadh, an avid biker and actor, shared his personal journey toward mental wellness through his biking expeditions. Celebrating his birthday, Sadh revealed, “Riding is therapeutic for me.
. As highlighted in my series, ‘Motorcycle Saved My Life,’ there was a time when I needed clarity, and that’s when my riding journey began.” Sadh’s travels across India, including stops in Balasinor, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, and beyond, offer him an intimate exposure to the nation’s diverse cultures and landscapes. He enthused about sharing this journey, emphasizing the undiscovered beauty of India.
In the humanitarian sphere, veteran actor Kabir Bedi has thrown his support behind Sightsavers, an organization dedicated to combating avoidable blindness. Bedi praised Sightsavers for their holistic approach, which includes not only vision correction but also integrating visually impaired children into mainstream schooling and teaching self-defense to blind girls. Additionally, Sightsavers’ initiative to test truck drivers’ vision—discovering that 42 percent had vision problems—underlines the organization’s impact on livelihoods. Bedi called on the public to support these crucial endeavors.
Marking World Environment Day, actress Pooja Hegde shared her personal efforts to remain environmentally conscious. During a recent beach clean-up in Juhu, Hegde discussed her habit of carrying a trash bag in her car to avoid littering. “Small practices can make a big change,” she asserted, urging the use of reusable plastic and discouraging disposal after single use. Hegde’s last film was “Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan,” and she is slated to appear alongside Shahid Kapoor in “Deva.”
On a more personal note, Bollywood’s beloved Jaggu Dada, Jackie Shroff, along with his wife Ayesha, celebrated their wedding anniversary to much fanfare. Friends and family hailed the couple’s enduring bond. Ayesha, reflecting on their journey, shared a throwback picture captioned: “Happy anniversary to us! It’s been 47 years. To friendship and the best two kids in the world.” Jackie, in a heartfelt video post, referred to Ayesha as “my spine,” underscoring the deep connection they share.
As the 18th Lok Sabha begins its term, the blend of entertainment and politics marks a new chapter in Indian governance. The performances of these celebrity MPs will be closely watched, bringing the worlds of glamour and governance ever closer.
