Kangana Ranaut, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan to Hema Malini: Bollywood celebrities who stepped into politics

The relationship between Bollywood and politics has evolved over decades, with several actors stepping beyond films like ‘Sholay’ and ‘Queen’ to take on public roles. From brief political stints to long-standing careers, these stars have navigated both fame and governance with varying degrees of success.

Amitabh Bachchan, known for ‘Deewar’ and ‘Shahenshah’, entered politics in 1984 with the Indian National Congress from Allahabad. His tenure, however, lasted only about three years before he stepped down, choosing to distance himself from active politics and return his focus to cinema.

Jaya Bachchan, celebrated for ‘Guddi’ and ‘Abhimaan’, joined the Samajwadi Party in 2004. Since then, she has served multiple terms as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha representing Uttar Pradesh, maintaining a steady and influential presence in Indian politics.

Hema Malini, known for ‘Dream Girl’, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2004 and later became MP from Mathura. Meanwhile, late actor Dharmendra, remembered for ‘Sholay’, served as a BJP Member of Parliament from Bikaner between 2004 and 2009, marking his active political phase.

Govinda, popular for ‘Hero No. 1’ and ‘Coolie No. 1’, joined the Indian National Congress and served as a Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North from 2004 to 2009. His political career lasted a single term but attracted significant public and media attention.

Jaya Prada, recognised for ‘Sargam’, has had a dynamic political career across multiple parties, including the Telugu Desam Party, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, and later the BJP in 2019, reflecting her continued engagement in politics over the years.

Sunny Deol, known for ‘Gadar’ and ‘Border’, joined the BJP in 2019 and was elected as MP from Gurdaspur the same year. His entry marked a new phase where contemporary stars began actively stepping into governance roles.

Urmila Matondkar, known for ‘Rangeela’, contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with the Congress. She later joined Shiv Sena in 2020, highlighting the evolving political journeys of actors in modern times.

Kangana Ranaut, known for ‘Queen’ and ‘Manikarnika’, stepped into politics with the BJP in recent years. With her outspoken views and strong public presence, she represents a new generation of actors actively shaping political discourse.