Final Up to date:November 24, 2025, 18:49 IST
Veteran actor Dharmendra, who died at 89, tasted quick electoral success when he joined the BJP in 2004 however didn’t final lengthy sufficient in politics to carve out a path for himself
On this photograph from March 24, 2004, actor Dharmendra addresses a press convention after becoming a member of the BJP in New Delhi. (Picture: PTI/File)
A permanent icon of Indian cinema, who outlined six many years of Hindi movie historical past, veteran actor Dharmendra’s foray into politics was short-lived but memorable.
Dharmendra, who died at 89 on Monday, tasted quick electoral success very like his spouse Hema Malini and eldest son Sunny Deol – who gained Lok Sabha elections from Mathura and Gurdaspur years later – however didn’t final lengthy sufficient in politics to carve out a path for himself.
In a 2008 interview with PTI, he had stated as recommendation to fellow movie personalities: “I won’t say that coming into politics was a mistake but, yes, an actor should not come into politics as it divides the audience and general acceptance among fans. An actor should always remain an actor.”
WHY DID DHARMENDRA JOIN THE BJP?
Impressed by the BJP’s “India Shining” marketing campaign, Dharmendra – the beloved legend of movies like Sholay (1975) and Satyakam (1969) entered the political enviornment in 2004. His entry into the BJP adopted conferences with outstanding leaders, together with LK Advani and Shatrughan Sinha.
He efficiently contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, securing Rajasthan’s Bikaner, although the BJP, then led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, confronted an enormous electoral defeat. Drawing on his star energy and Punjabi appeal, he struck a chord with the voters and defeated the Congress candidate, Rameshwar Lal Dudi, by not less than 60,000 votes. His huge reputation and outspoken angle had been key components in his victory, which secured him a seat as an MP within the 14th Lok Sabha.
WHY DID DHARMENDRA QUIT POLITICS?
However, Dharmendra – a star in his personal proper – couldn’t sustain with the glamour of political life that rapidly pale for him.
He accomplished his five-year time period in 2009 however by no means contested an election once more. This was additionally partly because of the extreme criticism he confronted over being an “absentee” MP, which is a time period that plagues most movie personalities who develop into politicians.
The actor was accused of restricted public engagement and minimal attendance in Parliament, with studies suggesting he usually most well-liked capturing movies or staying at his farmhouse. Regardless of the criticism, nevertheless, lots of his supporters insisted that he labored sincerely behind the scenes on constituency points.
He, too, defended his efforts, stating that his workplace saved him apprised of constituents’ calls for. His swift departure from lively politics primarily stemmed from deep disillusionment with the political course of and a sense that such an atmosphere was unsuitable for him.
Actor Sunny Deol later shared that his father regretted coming into politics and described the expertise as emotionally draining for him and unsuited to his temperament. Actually, Dharmendra as soon as lamented the interior workings of the system and lack of credit score for his efforts.
“Kaam main karta tha, credit koi aur le jaata tha (I used to do all the work, but the credit would go to someone else)… Perhaps that place wasn’t for me,” Dharmendra had stated.
His strongest statements additionally revealed the emotional toll politics had taken on him. At a public occasion in Ludhiana in 2010, he had expressed profound remorse.
“I felt suffocated in politics. I was emotionally dragged into the field…the day I agreed, I went to the washroom and banged my head into the mirror regretting what I had done. Politics is something I never wanted to do,” he had stated.
Even after the actor stepped away, the household maintained its political presence.
His spouse, Hema Malini, turned a three-time MP from Mathura and had beforehand served as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2004 to 2009. She famous that he was initially towards her contesting, telling her to not as a result of he discovered it a “very difficult task” primarily based on his expertise.
Regardless of his personal unhappiness with politics, Dharmendra supported Sunny Deol within the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when he joined the BJP and contested from Punjab’s Gurdaspur. He even addressed a rally there for him, stressing that he was not a politician and was solely there to “speak from the heart, not to give speeches”.
“I do not give speeches, I just talk to people. What is in a speech? I am not a politician,” he had stated.
Sunny went on to win the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat by over 82,000 votes, defeating Congress chief Sunil Jakhar. However, very like his father, he selected to not return to lively politics after finishing his time period.
‘SAD FOR MY FARMER BROTHERS’
Although he would hardly ever voice his ideas on nationwide and social points, Dharmendra stood up for the agricultural neighborhood through the 2020 farmer protests.
He had appealed to the central authorities to “quickly find a solution” to the farmers’ issues. “I request the government… please quickly find a solution to the farmers’ problems… the number of corona cases are on a rise in Delhi… it is painful,” he had posted on X.
Nonetheless, he later deleted the submit, which led to criticism from many social media customers. When one person instructed he deleted the submit as he will need to have felt helpless, he replied: “I felt sad by remarks like these, and hence deleted my tweet. You can abuse me to your heart’s content, I am happy that you are happy. I am sad for my farmer brothers. The government should find a solution fast, nobody is listening to us.”
(With company inputs)
First Printed:
November 24, 2025, 18:20 IST
Information motion pictures Joined For BJP’s ‘India Shining’, Give up Due To ‘Emotional Toll’: Dharmendra’s Quick-Lived Political Profession
Disclaimer: Feedback mirror customers’ views, not News18’s. Please hold discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or unlawful feedback shall be eliminated. News18 might disable any remark at its discretion. By posting, you comply with our Phrases of Use and Privateness Coverage.
