Actor Nagma is geared up to contest from Meerut as a Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha elections
Southern actor Nagma, famous for her Bollywood movie Baghi with Salman Khan, is now geared up to enter politics. She is set to contest elections from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, as a Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha election, and says that people shouldn’t look down upon artists as their success rate is higher than the failure in the political arena. The 39-year-old, who has over two weeks to campaign, has a candid chat with the actor:
What prompted you to take the plunge into politics?
It isn’t as if it’s an overnight decision. I’ve been in it for 10 years. I became interested in politics in 2003. All educated people in the country should be part of the process to bring about change.
You’ve been inching into politics for a while now?
I joined Congress I in 2004. I was busy with films then and I couldn’t campaign actively as active politics requires hundred percent of your energy. But I started working for the party in 2004.
What plans do you have for your chosen constituency, Meerut? It is a very volatile area...
It is. There is a lot of scope for infrastructure development. The education of the young and job opportunities are major problems. There are lots of problems plaguing the farmers’s community. Issues regarding small-scale industries, law and order situation and, of course, issues related to women and children need attention.
Is there a deep sense of disappointment among people with politicians who offered a change?
There is. On top of that Bollywood actors are looked on with added suspicion. But what about the actors who have done well in politics like Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi, (late) Sunil Dutt, Chiranjeevi, Shatrughan Sinha and Jayaprada? I think actors who have delivered in politics outnumber the ones who haven’t delivered. I think individuals from the entertainment industry are better than lots of crass politicians roaming around. I think we should invite young and talented people, who want to make a difference, from all walks of life into politics.
Is there a deep sense of disappointment among people with politicians who offered a change?
There is. On top of that Bollywood actors are looked on with added suspicion. But what about the actors who have done well in politics like Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi, (late) Sunil Dutt, Chiranjeevi, Shatrughan Sinha and Jayaprada? I think actors who have delivered in politics outnumber the ones who haven’t delivered. I think individuals from the entertainment industry are better than lots of crass politicians roaming around. I think we should invite young and talented people, who want to make a difference, from all walks of life into politics.
Are you done with films?
No, I can never say that. Films have given me everything. I am what I am today because of cinema.
Do you wish to become another Jayalalitha?
(Laughs) It’s too early to think that big. But I’ll work as hard in politics as I did in movies.
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