12 celebrities who joined politics this election season

For years now, veteran actors have been taking to politics in India. Not only have they been widely accepted by the public, but some of them also grew even more popular after becoming active politicians. This national general election too, several former television and movie stars decided to ditch the glitz and glam to “work for the people”. A host of such stars joined the bandwagon only recently, some just ahead of the elections and some after the seven-phase polls had started.

Here’s a look at the fresh batch of celebrities who decided to fight elections.

Isha Koppikar

The erstwhile actress joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in January in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. She was appointed the working president of the BJP's women transport wing.

Image: ANI

Prakash Raj

A national award-winning actor, he announced his entry into politics over a tweet in January. He decided to contest the ongoing parliament elections as an independent candidate.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Sreejithkoiloth

Arshi Khan

An actress whose claim to fame was Bigg Boss 11, Khan joined the Congress as the vice president of the party in Maharashtra. Announcing her decision, she said she joined the party because she believes it needs more youths who are outspoken in its fold.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Bollywood Hungama

Also Read: From actors to sportsmen, stardust spreads on poll path this Lok Sabha election

Poonam Sinha

Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha’s wife Poonam Sinha joined the Samajwadi Party. Poonam, who was crowned Miss Young India in 1968, was an actress herself under the screen name Komal. She joined SP in the presence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav.

Vijender Singh Beniwal

Indian pugilist Vijender Singh recently joined the Congress. The party is fielding the boxer from the South Delhi seat.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Manojkhurana

Sunny Deol

Best known for starring in patriotic movies like Border and Gadar, the actor has joined the BJP and is fighting the polls from Gurdaspur in Punjab this time for the saffron party.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Bollywood Hungama

Nusrat Jahan

A Trinamool Congress candidate and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee loyalist, she is out wooing voters in Basirhat constituency. Due to the strong polarisation of votes on communal lines, it is being touted as a tough gig for a Muslim candidate.

Image: Twitter/@nusratchirps

Jawed Habib

The renowned hairstylist joined the BJP and declared that, from being “desh ka hairstylist”, he is now “desh ka chowkidar”.

Jawed Habib | Profession – Hairstylist/ Franchisee Owner | Jawed Habib joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 22, 2019. His candidature has not been announced yet. (Image: ANI)

Urmila Matondkar

The actress who sizzled the silver screen in the 1990s joined the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. She stated that she joined the party because her ideology was in tandem with the party’s and that she wanted to work to curb the growing sentiments of intolerance in the country.

Urmila Matondkar

Mimi Chakraborty

A Tollywood actress, she joined the Trinamool Congress to further the party’s aim of winning the support of the locals. She is being widely criticised for her 'lack of experience' and a detached approach towards election rallies.

Image: Twitter/@mimichakraborty

Shilpa Shinde

The TV actress joined the Congress party. Famous for her role in the daily soap, Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hai, and a recent win in Bigg Boss, she joined politics in February.

Shilpa Shinde

Gautam Gambhir

The former top-order Indian cricketer joined the Bharatiya Janata Party as a key candidate from the East Delhi constituency, fighting the poll-battle against Congress' Arvinder Singh Lovely and Aam Admi Party's star candidate Atishi Marlena.

Gautam Gambhir