Kangana Ranaut to Jaya Bachchan: 5 actress-turned-political leaders

Indian cinema and politics have long been intertwined, with many talented actresses making the transition from the silver screen to the political arena. These dynamic women have leveraged their charisma, popularity, and passion to make a meaningful impact in the world of politics.

From veteran actresses like Hema Malini and Jaya Bachchan to newer entrants like Kangana Ranaut, many have successfully navigated the complex landscape of Indian politics, using their platform to advocate for social change, empowerment, and development.

Let’s take a look at some of the names from the Indian entertainment industry who have been making waves on the political front.

Kangana Ranaut

The latest entry of a Bollywood actress into the political world is that of Kangana Ranaut. She was announced as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Lok Sabha candidate for the General Elections 2024 from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency. Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Lallantop, Ranaut mistakenly called former President Ram Nath Kovind as India’s first Dalit President. She was corrected by journalist Saurabh Dwivedi, after which she said, “Sorry for my misinformation.”

Jaya Bachchan

A member of the Samajwadi Party, Jaya Bachchan has been serving as the Rajya Sabha MP since 2004 to date. Recently, Bachchan was in the headlines over her name controversy in the Rajya Sabha when she objected to being called out by her husband’s name. Later, Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked her to officially change her name if she liked, since her name in electoral affidavits was registered as Jaya Amitabh Bachchan.

Hema Malini

Before she officially joined the BJP in 2004, Hema Malini had campaigned for the political party when late actor Vinod Khanna was contesting for the Gurdaspur seat in the Lok Sabha elections. She was nominated as a Rajya Sabha member by former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and served till 2009. Presently, the veteran actor is serving as the Lok Sabha MP from Mathura constituency, marking her third consecutive term in the office.

Kirron Kher

The two-time National Film Awards-winner, Kirron Kher, was twice elected as the BJP’s Lok Sabha MP from Chandigarh constituency. She served on the post from 2014 to 2024. Though she is no longer an MP, Kher continues to be a member of the BJP, which she joined in 2019. During the 2019 general elections that she contested, Kher won her seat by a margin of 46,970 votes.

Mimi Chakraborty

Member of the ruling Trinamool Congress party in West Bengal, Mimi Chakraborty has also served as an MP from May 2009 to June 2024 from the Jadavpur seat. Early this year, in February, Chakraborty resigned from her post. Known for Bengali films such as ‘Bapi Bari Ja,’ Chakraborty has also acted in Hindi movies including ‘Shastry Virudh Shastry’ and Bangladeshi film ‘Toofan.’