Photographs: Abhijit Mhamunkar
Glamorous netas, coming up!
The Lok Sabha Elections is beginning to look like a masala potboiler, starring a slew of actors, young and old, from film and television. And it even has an item girl!
So who are these stars, who are adding the glamour?
We take a look.
Click through the slide show, and tell us whether you would vote for these netas!
Rakhi Sawant
Party: Rashtriya Aam Party
Constituency: Mumbai North-West
The latest to join politics is Rakhi Sawant, who has formed her own party rather than join an existing one.
The green chilly is her symbol, as she believes it defines her persona. In fact, her first hit item number was called Mohabbat Hai Mirchi, and it featured in the forgotten 2003 film, Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne.
Will you vote for Rakhi Sawant?
Jaaved Jafferi
Image: Jaaved JafferiParty: Aam Aadmi Party
Constituency: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
The Boogie Woogie finale is over, and it looks like the show's judge Jaaved Jafferi has a lot of time to spare.
He has now joined the Aam Aadmi Party, and will take on powerful politician Rajnath Singh of the Bhartiya Janta Party, from Lucknow.
Will you vote for Jaaved Jafferi?
Kamal R Khan
Image: Kamal R KhanParty: Samajwadi Party
Constituency: Mumbai North-West
One of the most controversial actors on Twitter, Kamal R Khan has joined the Samajwadi Party.
He will be taking on Rakhi Sawant from Mumbai North-West.
Lets hope this former Bigg Boss contestant, known for his violent behavior on the show, doesn't throw a water bottle at RS.
Will you vote for Kamal R Khan?
Kirron Kher
Image: Kirron KherParty: Bhartiya Janta Party
Constituency: Chandigarh, Punjab
After playing mom roles in the movies and judging India’s Got Talent, Kirron Kher will have new avenues to show off her beautiful saris.
Will you vote for Kirron Kher?
Gul Panag
Image: Gul PanagParty: Aam Aadmi Party
Constituency: Chandigarh, Punjab
To take on Kirron Kher is former Miss India Gul Panag.
Will she upstage Kher in a Royal Enfield? Let's wait and watch.
Will you vote for Gul Panag?
Moon Moon Sen
Image: Moon Moon SenParty: Trinamool Congress
Constituency: Bankura, West Bengal
After mother Suchitra Sen passed away, Moon Moon Sen seems to have decided to become more active in the public eye.
The former actress will probably use her mother's appeal to garner votes.
Will you vote for Moon Moon Sen?
Biswajit Chatterjee
Image: Biswajit ChatterjeeParty: Trinamool Congress
Constituency: New Delhi
Veteran actor Biswajit, 77, may have been away from the limelight for a while but the Bees Saal Baad actor hopes to be part of active politics.
Biswajit has joined the Trinamool Congress.
Will you vote for Biswajit Chatterjee?
Divya Spandana/ Ramya
Image: Divya SpandanaParty: Congress
Constituency: Mandya, Karnataka
Kannada actress Divya Spandana -- also know as Ramya -- is the youngest member of the Parliament at 30.
Will you vote for Divya Spandana/ Ramya?
Chiranjeevi
Image: ChiranjeeviParty: Congress
Constituency: Undecided
In a film career spanning more than 30 years, Chiranjeevi has starred in over 149 feature films.
A Padma Bhushan awardee, he entered politics in 2008 and launched the Praja Rajyam Party. In 2011, his party merged with the Congress.
Will you vote for Chiranjeevi?
Jaya Pradha
Image: Jaya PradhaParty: Rashtriya Lok Dal
Constituency: Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh
Actress Jaya Pradha has been active in politics since 1994, when she had joined the Telugu Desam Party.
She switched over to the Samajwadi Party in 2004 but was expelled.
This year, she has joined the Rashtriya Lok Dal.
Will you vote for Jaya Pradha?
Manoj Tiwari
Image: Manoj TiwariParty: Bhartiya Janta Party
Constituency: North-East Delhi
Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari joined the Samajwadi Party in 2009.
Now, he is a representative of the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
Will you vote for Manoj Tiwari?
Nagma
Image: NagmaParty: Congress
Constituency: Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
Nagma has tried her hand at Bollywood, south and Bhojpuri movies.
Now, an active politician, Nagma hopes to charm her fans into casting votes for her.
Will you vote for Nagma?
Ravi Kissen
Image: Ravi KissenParty: Congress
Constituency: Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Ravi Kissen is sometimes called the Amitabh Bachchan of Bhojpuri cinema.
Will he stand as tall in the upcoming elections?
Will you vote for Ravi Kissen?
Raj Babbar
Image: Raj BabbarParty: Congress
Constituency: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
Like his acting career, Raj Babbar didn't always get his political career right. Like the time in 2013, when he said Rs 12 was sufficient to get a full meal for a common man in Mumbai.
And now, he hopes to win some votes.
Will you vote for Raj Babbar?
Vinod Khanna
Image: Vinod KhannaParty: Bhartiya Janta Party
Constituency: Gurdaspur, Punjab
Vinod Khanna has won from Gurdaspur thrice earlier, and he hopes to repeat his success once again.
Will you vote for Vinod Khanna?
Shatrughan Sinha
Image: Shatrughan SinhaParty: Bhartiya Janta Party
Constituency: Patna Sahib
Shatrughan Sinha has been a member of Rajya Sabha twice, and has also been the Union Cabinet Minister of Health and Family Welfare in 2003 and Shipping Minister in 2004.
He is now a BJP candidate from Patna Sahib.
Will you vote for Shatrughan Sinha?
Bappi Lahiri
Image: Bappi LahiriParty: Bhartiya Janta Party
Constituency: Sreerampore, Kolkata
The Disco King hopes to make people dance to his tune once again.
He will make his electoral debut as the BJP candidate from Sreerampore constituency in Hooghly district of Kolkata.
Will you vote for Bappi Lahiri?
Paresh Rawal
Image: Paresh RawalParty: Bhartiya Janta Party
Constituency: East Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Paresh Rawal seems to be a true Modi fan.
Not only is he contesting elections for the BJP, he is also rumoured to play Narendra Modi in a forthcoming biopic called NaMo.
Will you vote for Paresh Rawal?
Babul Supriyo
Image: Babul SupriyoParty: Bhartiya Janta Party
Constituency: Asansol, West Bengal.
Singer Babul Supriyo hopes to switch tracks, and have a successful political career.
Will you vote for Babul Supriyo?
Hema Malini
Image: Hema MaliniParty: Bhartiya Janta Party
Constituency: Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Bollywood's Dreamgirl is not new to politics. She joined the BJP in 2004, and has been an active member since.
Hema Malini is contesting the elections from Mathura.
Will you vote for Hema Malini?
Mahesh Manjrekar
Image: Mahesh ManjrekarParty: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
Constituency: Mumbai North-West
Actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar will be contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North-West as a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate for the first time.
He will have Kamaal R Khan and Rakh Sawant for company.
Will you vote for Mahesh Manjrekar?
Smriti Irani
Image: Smriti IraniParty: Bhartiya Janta Party
Constituency: Amethi, Uttar Pradesh
One of the most popular bahus in Indian television, Smriti Irani will have the toughest contestant opposite her -- Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
Will you vote for Smriti Irani?
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