Film Stars In Politics: There is a lot of similarity between cinema and politics, that is because everything in both these worlds is full of confusion. For a time, a film star’s films remain a hit at the box office, suddenly a flop film ruins his career. Same is the situation in politics also. An electoral defeat takes a leader’s political career into the abyss. In both worlds, the biggest role is played by the people who love them. In the film world, these fans are the audience and in politics, they are supporters.
cinema-politics relationship
For the past several decades, the two different worlds of films and politics have been merging into each other. The same actor whose audience used to wait for hours to get a glimpse, is now seen standing with folded hands asking people to vote. Such a trend is not only in Hindi films, it has also been visible in South India for many years.
Many film artists tried their luck
Actors like Sunil Dutt, who came into politics only with the desire of social service, are no more, who had genuine sympathy and pain for the society in his heart. But even after him, many film stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Babbar, Shatrughan Sinha, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jayaprada, Jaya Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Khanna, Govinda, Paresh Rawal and Mithun Chakraborty have entered politics in their times. Very few of these succeeded and those who could not, returned back. Because the meaning of politics is not limited to winning elections only on the basis of one’s film popularity.
This includes coming forward for social service and then making your voice reach the public from the stage. Many actors entered politics through films, some had faith in their honesty, but their innings did not last long. Although many artists are still active in politics.
Political parties benefit
This question still remains that what is the real purpose of film artists coming into politics? They have their own separate world, crowd of fans, immense money, then what do they get in politics, which their desire to achieve never ends? As far as political parties are concerned, their only interest towards famous actors is that they are brought forward for easy victory on a difficult seat. These cinema artists also play a role in gathering crowds for parties.
Some parties have sent some actors or actresses to Rajya Sabha for the sake of their credibility. Jaya Bachchan and Jaya Prada were such actresses, whom political parties used to create their identity in Rajya Sabha by keeping them away from electoral politics. Earlier, the ruling party had been doing the same thing on the Rajya Sabha seats nominated by the President. Artists like Nargis, Dilip Kumar and Rekha were also sent to Parliament through this route.
Very few artists became very successful
Both films and politics are such worlds that if one walks carefully in them, the public will win over them. But if you make even a little mistake, it doesn’t take long for the entire popularity to collapse. This is the reason that seeing their fame, film actors enter politics, but very few are successful in playing a long innings. Sunil Dutt, Hema Malini and Smriti Irani are among such actors of Hindi films, who won many elections and maintained their place.
But Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, Vinod Khanna, Raj Babbar, Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Mithun Chakraborty and Paresh Rawal are such actors of Hindi films who could not play a long innings in politics. Because he tried to capitalize on his film popularity in politics, which the public did not like. Sometimes he himself withdrew from politics, sometimes the public rejected it.
This is a different story
The film screen has its own world, its own story. Here the echo of applause of the audience on success is heard again and again. But after becoming a leader from an actor, hidden fears arise in the mind. In such a situation, there is a world between conflicts, complaints and reproaches with loved ones, where many times no one is there to support you. The restlessness of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna after entering and returning to politics can be easily understood.
After Dharmendra, his son Sunny Deol also got disillusioned with politics very soon, while Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna understood the difference between the failure of the film and neglect in politics. There is no dearth of such stories in the relationship between cinema and politics.
These stars will contest elections in 2024
However, Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil are the new film faces to enter the political arena in this Lok Sabha election. Whereas Govinda is preparing to contest elections again by changing parties after a long time of 20 years. Shatrughan Sinha has also changed party and is contesting parliamentary elections. It will be interesting to see what attitude the public takes towards them.
Presentation- Hemant Pal
