BMC polls: Senior citizen voter complains to Hema Malini about chaos at Mumbai poll booth; actress reacts

BMC polls: Senior citizen voter complains to Hema Malini about chaos at Mumbai poll booth; actress reacts

• Hema Malini voted in Mumbai BMC Elections, had tense exchange with senior citizen.
• Senior citizen's complaint on polling mismanagement discomforts Hema.
• Videos of the incident went viral, sparking debate on polling arrangements

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Veteran actor and BJP MP Hema Malini cast her vote during the Mumbai BMC Elections 2026 on Thursday morning, but the polling visit drew attention for reasons beyond civic participation. A tense exchange unfolded outside the polling booth when a senior citizen complained loudly about alleged mismanagement at the station, visibly unsettling the actor-politician.

Hema Malini, a resident of Mumbai and the sitting MP from Mathura, had just finished voting when she stopped to address the media. As she spoke, an elderly man present at the booth interrupted, expressing frustration over long delays and what he described as administrative chaos.

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“I have been staying in this area for the last 60 years. There is chaos for the first time. I have been trying to vote since 7:30 am and I got to vote at 9:30 am. Nobody is answerable, nobody is accountable and even a local BJP worker is not there,” the senior citizen was heard saying.

As the complaint continued, Hema asked one of her associates to intervene and look into the issue, stating, “He is answerable.” However, as the man persisted, visuals from the spot showed Hema appearing visibly bothered. She briefly laughed and rolled her eyes while turning back towards the reporters.

When her associate attempted to calm the situation by saying, “Baad mein baat karte hain (We’ll talk later),” the senior citizen responded firmly, “Baad mein nahi. Yeh sahi jagah hai. (Not later. This is the right place.)” The exchange grew louder, prompting Hema to remark, “Itna awaz karenge toh kisi ko kuch bhi nahi milega. (If you make this much noise, no one will get anything.)”

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Despite the disruption, Hema continued addressing the media, stressing the importance of voting and civic responsibility. “This is very very important for every citizen of Mumbai. If you want safety, security, progress, clean air, good roads, for all of this, we will all have to take responsibility and come and vote,” she said. She added, “I would say Mumbai is the best city in the world, but it can be better.”

Videos of the incident quickly circulated on social media, drawing mixed reactions from viewers, with some questioning the polling arrangements and others reacting to Hema’s visible discomfort during the exchange.

The polling day appearance comes just months after a personal loss for Hema Malini. Her husband, veteran actor Dharmendra, passed away in November at the age of 89. The couple married in 1980 and share two daughters, Esha and Ahana. Dharmendra also had four children from his first marriage.

As Mumbai votes in the crucial civic polls, the incident has once again brought attention to polling-day management and the pressures faced by public figures during such moments.