For decades now, Indian actors have been participating in politics in increasing numbers, seeking a chance to make a career switch and serve the nation. A benefit that celebrities and actors have is that their popularity guarantees decent votes. Whether we are talking about Bollywood superstars, Olympic medallists, or cricketing heroes, there are numerous examples of celebrities using their fame to make an entry into electoral politics. From campaigning for a particular political party to contesting elections, celebrities have always played a role in Indian elections. From Hema Malini to Kirron Kher, Smriti Irani to Nusrat Jahan, Indian politics has seen a lot of women politicians of all ages. Here are 10 actresses who took a plunge into electoral politics and emerged victoriously:
1. Hema Malini: Hema Malini joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the year 2004. She represents the Mathura Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh in Parliament. She is one of the most famous actors in the entire country.
2. Kirron Kher: Seasoned actress Kirron Kher has a successful political career. Kirron Kher joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2009. She represents the Chandigarh constituency in Lok Sabha. Although she has acted alongside her political career, no compromises have been made on either.
3. Jaya Prada: Jaya Prada was a part of the Telegu Desam Party, Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal before she joined BJP in 2019. She contested from Rampur parliamentary Constituency in UP with SP during the 2004 General election and got elected with a margin of more than 85000 votes. She won again in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
4. Dipika Chikhalia: Dipika Chikhalia is a multilingual actress, who had played in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Bhojpuri and Kannada. She came to the limelight with the super hit TV Series, Ramayan, where she played Sita. Dipika joined BJP and was elected as MP from the Baroda constituency.
5. Jaya Bachchan: Jaya Bachchan is a long time parliamentarian now. She joined the Samajwadi Party in the year 2004 and is a Rajya Sabha Member representing Uttar Pradesh. Before her political career, Jaya Bachchan starred in many movies with distinctive and well-defined roles.
6. Smriti Irani: Smriti Irani one of the most prominent actor-turned-politician is also on this list. That is because of her stellar work as an actor, most notably in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She emerged as a giant killer when she defeated Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
7. Nusrat Jahan: Nusrat Jahan is a Bengali politician who contested on a Trinamool Congress ticket and won the 2019 Lok Sabha from the Basirhat constituency. Jahan's screen debut was in Raj Chakraborty's Shotru and she went on to do several more movies.
8. Mimi Chakraborty: Mimi Chakraborty joined politics and won from Jadavpur Lok Sabha Constituency in the 2019 Indian general election as a Trinamool Congress candidate. She is also known for her work in Bengali cinema and television.
9. Moon Moon Sen: Moon Moon Sen is a multilingual actress, who made her debut in Andar Baahar in 1984. Moon Moon Sen played in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi films. In 2014, Moon Moon Sen joined Trinamool Congress and emerged victorious from the Bankura Lok Sabha constituency.
10. Ramya aka Divya Spandana: This Southern beauty has done Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films and has won many awards for her performances. Not content with just acting, Divya Spandana joined the Indian Youth Congress in 2012 and won the 2013 by-election on Congress ticket from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka.
