From Kangana to Hema Malini, celebrity power in parliament

The 18th Lok Sabha will feature several celebrities among its newly elected members, showcasing the increasing trend of popular faces from the entertainment industry entering politics. This election season saw first-time MPs like Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil, along with returning star politicians Hema Malini and Manoj Tiwari.

Kangana Ranaut, a well-known Bollywood actress and supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, won her first election from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. She defeated Vikramaditya Singh, son of the state's former chief minister, Virbhadra Singh. Ranaut's victory has sparked curiosity about her future role as an MP.

Arun Govil, famous for his portrayal of Lord Ram in the classic TV serial "Ramayan," won the Meerut seat in Uttar Pradesh. Despite a close contest with Samajwadi Party's Sunita Yadav, Govil's iconic image helped secure his win by a narrow margin.

Hema Malini, another veteran from Hindi cinema, secured her third consecutive term as MP from Mathura, demonstrating her enduring appeal in the temple town known as the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Similarly, Bhojpuri star Manoj Tiwari won his third term from North East Delhi, defeating Congress's Kanhaiya Kumar.

Other notable winners include Ravi Kishan, who retained his seat in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Suresh Gopi, who made significant inroads for the BJP in Kerala's Thrissur constituency. Meanwhile, Shatrughan Sinha, representing the Trinamool Congress, triumphed in Asansol, West Bengal.

Despite these victories, some celebrity candidates faced defeats. Smriti Irani lost to Kishorilal Sharma in Amethi, and Dinesh Lal Yadav, known as Nirahua, was bested in Azamgarh.