6 Famous Bollywood and South Stars Who Failed in Politics
Many movie stars try to join politics. Some become very successful. For example, Thalapathy Vijay is taking his oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu today. however, not every actor finds success in the world of politics. Many big names from Bollywood and the South film industry tried their luck but could not stay for long.
Here is a detailed look at six popular stars who entered politics but failed to make it a long-term career.
1. Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is one of the biggest stars in India. In 1984, he decided to take a break from movies. He wanted to help his family friend, Rajiv Gandhi, who was the Prime Minister at that time. Amitabh Bachchan contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Allahabad seat.
He won the election by defeating HN Bahuguna, who was a former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. However, his political journey did not last long. There were many rumors and talks about the Bofors scandal. Because of these issues, Amitabh Bachchan resigned from his post as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1987. He then left politics forever.
2. Govinda
The famous comedy star Govinda also tried his hand at politics. He joined the Congress party in 2004. He fought for the Mumbai North seat in the Lok Sabha elections. Govinda was very popular and defeated the senior BJP leader Ram Naik.
Even though he won, Govinda did not stay in politics for many years. In 2009, he decided to step away from his political duties. He wanted to focus on his acting career again. Like Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda also found it hard to balance movies and politics.
3. Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth is a legendary superstar from the South film industry. His fans waited for many years for him to join politics. In 2018, he finally started his own group called Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM). This was also known as the People’s Forum.
However, things changed after three years. In 2021, Rajinikanth announced that he was dissolving his party. He told his fans and the media that he would never pursue politics as a career in the future. This was a big surprise for many people who expected him to become a big political leader.
4. Urmila Matondkar
Actress Urmila Matondkar entered the political field in 2019. She joined the Congress party to start her journey. But her time with the party was very short. She quit the Congress party within just five months. She said that internal politics within the party was the reason for her leaving.
In 2020, she joined another party called the Shiv Sena. Even though she changed parties, she still showed support for her old colleagues. She participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu alongside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
5. Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt tried to enter politics in 2009. He joined the Samajwadi Party. He wanted to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Lucknow constituency. However, he faced a big legal problem. He had a conviction under the Arms Act.
The court refused to stop his conviction. Because of this, Sanjay Dutt had to withdraw his name from the election. The party later made him the General Secretary. But after some time, he resigned from that post and decided to quit politics completely.
6. Shekhar Suman
Shekhar Suman is a well-known actor and host. He joined the Congress party and fought the Lok Sabha elections in 2009. He contested from the Patna Sahib seat. He was fighting against another famous actor, Shatrughan Sinha, who was with the BJP.
Shekhar Suman lost the election to Shatrughan Sinha. In 2012, he decided to leave the Congress party. He resigned from his position. He said the reason for leaving was that he was too busy with his work in Bollywood.
Summary of Actors in Politics
| Actor Name | Political Party | Year of Entry | Result/Reason for Leaving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amitabh Bachchan | Congress | 1984 | Resigned in 1987 due to Bofors scandal rumors. |
| Govinda | Congress | 2004 | Left in 2009 to focus on acting career. |
| Rajinikanth | Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM) | 2018 | Dissolved the party in 2021 and quit politics. |
| Urmila Matondkar | Congress / Shiv Sena | 2019 | Left Congress due to internal politics; joined Shiv Sena. |
| Sanjay Dutt | Samajwadi Party | 2009 | Withdrew due to court conviction under Arms Act. |
| Shekhar Suman | Congress | 2009 | Lost election; resigned in 2012 to focus on Bollywood. |
Conclusion
Politics is a very different field compared to the film industry. While some actors like Thalapathy Vijay find success, many others find it difficult. Stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, and Rajinikanth realized that politics was not for them. They eventually returned to their first love, which is acting in movies.
FAQs
Why did Amitabh Bachchan leave politics?
Amitabh Bachchan resigned as an MP in 1987. He left because of the rumors and speculations surrounding the Bofors scandal.
Which actor defeated Ram Naik in the 2004 elections?
Govinda defeated the BJP leader Ram Naik in the 2004 elections for the Mumbai North seat.
What was the name of Rajinikanth’s political group?
Rajinikanth founded a group called Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM), which is also known as the People’s Forum.
Why couldn’t Sanjay Dutt contest the 2009 elections?
Sanjay Dutt could not contest because the court refused to suspend his conviction under the Arms Act.
Who did Shekhar Suman lose to in the Patna Sahib election?
Shekhar Suman lost the election to actor Shatrughan Sinha, who was representing the BJP.