A young Bollywood debut opposite Kangana Ranaut once introduced Chirag Paswan to the public, but his journey since then has transformed him into one of Bihar’s most influential political figures. Though Miley Naa Miley Hum remained his only film, the son of veteran leader and former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has carved out a strong identity far beyond the big screen.
Riding high after a clean 5/5 sweep in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chirag Paswan, now a Union Minister in the Modi-led NDA government, is pushing for at least 40 seats for his Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) in the upcoming Bihar polls. He has also announced that he will contest from a general seat rather than a reserved one, signalling confidence and a strategic shift as he positions himself as a key player in the state’s political battle.
Chirag Paswan’s short Bollywood journey
Chirag Paswan acted in the film Miley Naa Miley Hum, where he played a young tennis player who falls in love with Anishka, played by Kangana Ranaut, despite his parents’ disapproval. The movie also featured Kabir Bedi and Poonam Dhillon as his parents, along with Sagarika Ghatge, Neeru Bajwa, Dilip Tahil and Suresh Menon in supporting roles.
Chirag Paswan’s entry into politics
Chirag Paswan was born on October 31, 1982, to veteran leader Ram Vilas Paswan. He completed his schooling through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in Delhi. Later, he joined the Institute of Engineering and Technology in Jhansi to study B.Tech in Computer Engineering, but left the course in his third semester to explore opportunities in films and eventually stepped into politics.
Chirag entered politics in 2012 by joining the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), founded by his father. He quickly proved his potential, and in 2014, he won the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, marking the beginning of his rise in national politics.
A family rift and the fight for legacy
By 2019, Chirag Paswan became the national president of the LJP, guiding the party through internal conflicts while holding on to his Lok Sabha seat. His toughest phase came after his father died in 2020, when a bitter battle for political legacy erupted between him and his uncle, Pashupati Kumar Paras. The split weakened the party, with five MPs siding with Paras.
Chirag eventually formed his own party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and made a strong comeback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by winning all five seats. He later became the Cabinet Minister for Food Processing Industries, a ministry once held by his father.
Known for his sharp speeches and appeal among young voters, Chirag is now seen as a rising force in Bihar politics, with many wondering if he will play a key role in shaping the state’s political future.
