Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena on Thursday fielded Bollywood veteran Govinda from Mumbai North-West. Notably, this will be the second time that the Bhagam Bhag actor will contest the polls.
The upcoming general elections 2024, are slated to take place in seven phases, while the voting for the first phase is scheduled on April 19. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4.
#WATCH | Veteran Bollywood actor Govinda joins Shiv Sena in the presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde pic.twitter.com/vYu2qYDrlO
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2024
Previously in 2004 general election, the actor secured a seat in Parliament from Mumbai North, triumphing over five-time MP Ram Naik, who had previously served as the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. He garnered a substantial victory margin of over 50,000 votes. Subsequently, the actor took a hiatus from films from 2003 to 2005.
During that electoral campaign, Govinda outlined his agenda focusing on transportation, health, and education, advocating for improvements in these areas. He claimed credit for the substantial progress made in the quadrupling of the Borivali-Virar section of the Western Railway zone, attributing 80% of the achievement to his efforts. Although he made some endeavors in the fields of health and education, administrative delays hindered the realization of certain projects, such as the construction of anganwadis and addressing drinking water issues in Vasai and Virar.
However, Govinda’s tenure as a Member of Parliament was marred by his frequent absence from parliamentary sessions, drawing criticism for his inactivity. Despite his commitments to his film career, particularly highlighted by his success with the film ‘Partner’ in 2007, he faced public scrutiny for his dual role as an actor and an absentee parliamentarian. Ultimately, on January 20, 2008, Govinda opted to resign from politics to refocus on his acting career in Bollywood.
Reflecting on his foray into politics, Govinda later admitted to feeling that it was a waste of time and acknowledged its detrimental impact on his film career.
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Despite his contributions to Bollywood in the past, the veteran actor has struggled to maintain relevance in recent times. His last notable appearance was in ‘Rangeela Raja’, where he portrayed a double role, but the film failed to impress audiences and was deemed unsuccessful.
Regrettably, the iconic actor, who once dominated the screens in the 20th century, has struggled to resonate with the younger generation of the 21st century. His career faced significant challenges during the early 2000s, marked by a series of unsuccessful films such as ‘Akhiyon Se Goli Maare,’ ‘Kyo Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta,’ and ‘Ek Aur Ek Gyarah.’
Although Govinda received nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for his roles in ‘Kyo Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta’ (2001) and ‘Akhiyon Se Goli Maare’ (2002), his success has been limited. Notably, he achieved success with only two films, ‘Bhagam Bhag’ and ‘Partner,’ which emerged during a transitional phase in Bollywood.
Sensing quite a dusk of his own career, Govinda had faced challenges when he tried launching his children, Yashvardhan and Tina Ahuja, into the film industry. Despite seeking assistance from superstar Salman Khan, rumours suggest that he did not receive support, except for speculation that Salman’s support facilitated Govinda’s role in the successful film ‘Partner.’
In recent years, Govinda has made sporadic guest appearances on the TV reality show ‘Super Dancer.’ Despite his longstanding presence in the entertainment industry, Govinda has faced setbacks both in Bollywood and politics over the past two decades.
