Hema Malini: From Bollywood to Lok Sabha

Veteran actor is determined to prove the cynics wrong, who doubt her political credentials.

MUMBAI:

Actor Hema Malini, who has earned her spurs as the ‘Dream Girl’ of Bollywood in her over 50-year-long career, is looking towards enhancing her alternate career as a politician. After winning the Mathura parliamentary seat on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket, she is determined to prove all the cynics wrong, who doubt her political credentials.

She has said that she is not in politics to gain publicity by striking poses for pictures, but to lend impetus to the changes needed in the way the constituency is run. “They [the cynics] were making fun of me because they thought I was just here in Mathura to pose for pretty pictures in beautiful saris,” she stated.

“They have forgotten that I spent six years in the Rajya Sabha before attempting to contest the Lok Sabha elections. So, I am not only a glamorous star whiling away my time,” said the veteran actor. “Now, those cynics will sit and watch my performance. They will say, ‘Let’s see what she does.’ Well, all I can say to them is that they will get to see a lot of me in Mathura,” she proclaimed.

The actor, who celebrated her victory with her daughters Ahana and Esha, feels her physical presence in her constituency is not enough. “It would be simple enough for me to visit Mathura once a month, but that isn’t enough. There is work to be done and many changes needed in the constituency,” said the 65 year old.

Hema claimed that although her affiliation with BJP has played an imperative role in her victory, her personal standing in the constituency contributed immensely to her winning by a wide margin. “People in Mathura knew I was there with a serious agenda. Now, I need to prove myself,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2014.

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