Bollywood votes for their PM

Bollywood personalities are an intrinsic part of Indian politics with many actors turning towards it as an alternate profession. Veterans like Vinod Khanna, Hema Malini and Shatrughan Sinha have joined politics and support various parties. With the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in full swing, we take a look at what Bollywood personalities have to say and who they are rooting for as India's next Prime Minister. While Kirron Kher and Paresh Rawal are contesting for BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party), Gul Panag is contesting from Chandigarh opposite Kirron Kher as a representative of AAP (Aam Aadmi Party). Even actress Ameesha Patel promoted the Congress party in Rajkot (Gujarat) on 19th April and on 20th April in Ahmedabad. With the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in full swing, B-town celebs are making sure they vote for their favourite candidates. With Narendra Modi contesting as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, Arvind Kejriwal for AAP and Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for Congress, find out who Bollywood is voting for!

In the wake of the elections, Bollywood is also exercising their voting rights by choosing their Prime Ministerial candiate. Recently, Bollywood writer Anjum Rajabali filed an appeal where several Bollywood A-Listers asked people to vote strategically to protect the country's secular character. Without naming a particular party or body, directors like Imtiaz Ali, Zoya Akhtar, Mahesh Bhatt, Kabir Khan singer Shubha Mudgal and writer Robin Bhatt signed the letter. It read: The best thing about our country is its cultural diversity, its pluralism – the co-existence of a number of religions and ethnicities over centuries, and hence the blooming of multiple streams of intellectual and artistic thought. And, this has been possible only because Indian society has prided itself on being essentially secular in character, rejecting communal hatred, embracing tolerance. Today, that very sense of India is vulnerable. The need of the hour is to protect our country’s secular foundation. Undoubtedly, corruption and governance are important issues, but we will have to vigilantly work out ways of holding our government accountable to that. However, one thing is clear: India’s secular character is not negotiable! Not now, not ever.As Indian citizens who love our motherland, we appeal to you to vote for the secular party, which is most likely to win in your constituency.Jai Hind!

While many have chosen to speak out, others are showing their support. Actor Viveik Oberoi, is campaigning for mother-in-law Nandini Alva, who is contesting from Bangalore Central on JD(s) ticket. Though the actor is supporting his mom in law, he has also shown appreciation for BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. He posted on his Twitter handle, "Waah paaji! @MikaSingh: Going to rock #ahamdabad Roads and everything is very good! Bole tau maja ma!Modi ji manne ahiyan Saru lage chhe!!” According to a report in IANS, the actor further said, "I feel that the country needs Narendra Modi today. He is a vikas purush, he has proved his work in Gujarat. People are raising questions against him, but I think Modiji talks less and works more," the 37-year-old said here Saturday at a press conference to show support to 15 known names from Mumbai."That's why he has a lot of work to show. Around 18,000 villages in Gujarat have received electricity and it is not plain talk, he has done work, he is a karm yogi," he added.

Following suit is filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar who openly showed his support for Modi. He posted on Twitter, "Let's hope better sense prevails and our film industry elects @narendramodi with a thumping majority. It's time India got a visionary leader. Launching a personal attack on a man who has done more for his State than any other leader, reeks of conspiracy & unwarranted paranoia." Actress Raveena Tandon has criticised the open letter written by some members of Bollywood. When a fan posted on Tandon's Twitter handle, "@TandonRaveena Ex-Pres Dr A P J Kalam "India can b saved if #Modi is Elected as PM," she re-tweeted the comment. Not only that, she also wrote, "My respected seniors colleagues film industry. Why did you not speak up when kashmiri pandits were being massacred driven out of kashmir? innocent Sikhs were burnt alive in delhi, NE oppressed, Y ur heart beats only for gujarat? if truly Secular. You should've spoken much earlier."

Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh, whose father, the late Vilasrao Deshmukh belonged to the Congress party, cast his vote from Latur. The actor was also seen campaigning for the Congress party. He wrote on his Twitter account, "Time to voice your opinion - Go vote guys - I just did - #MeraVoteMeraDesh. #MyVote in Latur. The actor also put a picture of him getting inked after voting on Instagram. According to a report in The Indian Express, film maker Vivek Agnihotri, who directed Hate Story, was quoted saying, “As a citizen I want someone who can give results, bring in growth and development, ensure there are no strikes, Bharat bandh, terrorism and law and order is in place. I think Modi is a political innovator.” But that's not all, he even posted on his Twitter account, " Good that @BDUTT has praised Modi. But isn't 'Good' a bit mild?"

Salman Khan was in the news when he went to promote his last film Jai Ho in Gujarat. The actor went during Uttarayan, a kite flying festival that holds much importance in Gujarat. Salman was clicked with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and while the actor made headlines for this, his father, noted scriptwriter Salim Khan has lent his support to Modi by launching an Urdu website to promote him. In an interview to The Times of India, he was quoted saying, "Modi is an open minded person but I am a loyal voter of the Congress." As Mumbai gears up to vote this Thursday (24th April 2014), we only hope more and more B-town celebs take out time from their shooting schedules to cast their vote for India's next PM!