With the entry of actors into electoral politics, campaigning in three constituencies of Maharashtra has taken a more colourful and dramatic turn.
AAP candidate from Ahmednagar Deepali Sayyad, a Marathi actor, makes it a point to visit the local temple and interact with street vendors and women whenever she campaigns in any village.
Born as an upper caste Hindu, she married a Muslim 15 years ago and has been using her inter-religion marriage in her campaign. “I don’t believe in caste and religion,” she says. Another AAP candidate in Beed, Nandu Madhav, whose film Harishchandrachi Factory was India’s official nomination for the Oscars in 2011, insists on keeping his caste private. “You can call me Nandu Munde, Nandu Sheikh, or Nandu Kulkarni. I call myself a human being,” he says.
Actor-director Mahesh Manjrekar and item girl Rakhi Sawant are also facing each other in Mumbai North-West.