Why is a film star like a politician? According to the old gag, it’s because they both need the right lines and they both need to get in the crowds. But, seriously, do star campaigners actually influence voting behaviour? Would a Hema Malini belting out the line: “Chal, Danno, aaj teri Basanti ki izzat ka sawaal hai. BJP ko vote dilana hai” in election meeting after election meeting, bring home the bacon for the party, for instance? Or would a Smriti Irani Malhotra — fresh from the telegenic Virani parivar — bolster the apparently sinking fortunes of a Madan Lal Khurana in Delhi? Certainly there is a curiosity value attached to these celebrities that could help thicken an election crowd, but it’s unlikely that a smile and a smart line from these ladies, or the numerous other starlets buzzing on the campaign trail, would persuade a voter to change his/her mind on a candidate once it is made up.A distinction then needs to be made between film stars who are used, or allow themselves to be used as campaign bait, and thespians of repute who used their cinematic appeal to cultivate sustainable careers in politics. In Tamil Nadu, MGR — who many credit with having started the trend of the Indian star-politician — translated his cinematic appeal as a fighter against injustice into the political appeal of a man who appeared to care deeply for the poor. The story in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was similar: NTR went on to play Vishwamitra, not just on the screen but in real life.It is possibly the success of these two gentlemen which convinced Rajiv Gandhi that he needed some star power to shore up his declining political fortunes. The Congress in the mid-eighties went on a Bollywood recruitment spree, getting on board greats like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Sunil Dutt, besides smaller notables like Arun Govil, the pasty-faced Ram of the television mythological, Ramayana, to serve as crutches for the party. Yet all Rajiv Gandhi’s stars and superstars could not save him from that famous 1989 election debacle. Perhaps there is a lesson here for the BJP, which can rightly take pride in its star line-up. These beautiful people may be useful as crowd-pullers but can be quite disastrous as crutches.
