From Bachchans to Khans, some of Bollywood's biggest names queued up at polling booths to cast their votes for the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
From Bachchans to Khans, some of Bollywood's biggest names on Thursday queued up at polling booths to cast their votes for the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.
While Aamir Khan and John Abraham turned up in the morning to exercise their franchise, Bollywood's first family, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachachan, Abhishek and Aishwarya visited their nearest polling booth in Juhu in the afternoon.
Bachchans flashed their fingers to show the electoral ink before walking out.
Shahrukh Khan, who flew from South Africa to cast his vote, arrived late in a Bandra polling station and was mobbed by the waiting media.
"Being an actor and perhaps as someone people like to follow or listen to if I don't vote, everything that I endorse and all the jobs that I do, become irrelevant. Because the first endorsement I should give is for the electoral process," Shahrukh said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by fellow actor Aamir Khan earlier in the day when he came out to cast his vote.
"Being an Indian it is our duty to exercise our voting rights. No matter where I am, I will come out and vote. I am very proud as an Indian to be a part of the voting fraternity," Aamir said.
Film director Karan Johar, Sonali Bendre, Sonam Kapoor, Rahul Bose, Manyata Dutt, Paresh Rawal, Sanjay Dutt, Anupam Kher, Farhan Akhtar were among other celebrities who came out to exercise their franchise.
Actor John Abraham, an early voter, urged the public to vote for "change".
"You should come out and cast your vote. Because we live in a democracy where we have been give the power to choose the good. If we don't vote, we don't have the right to complain," said Abraham.
Actress Vidya Balan, who cast her vote at Subhash Nagar in suburban Chembur, said, "everyone should vote to ensure a government capable of giving us peace and security."
Amrita Rao said people should remember to vote first and enjoy their holiday later. "Don't vote for candidates with criminal background," she said.
TV show judge and actress Sonali Bendre also voted on Thursday morning. Recalling the first time she voted, Bendre said, "at that time, I really felt like an adult."
"Voting is one thing which keeps our democracy alive," Bendre added.
Polling was held in Mumbai South, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East and Mumbai North. In Thane district, polling was held in four Lok Sabha seates- Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Palghar.
Altogether 196 candidates, including 17 women, are in the fray. The first and second round of voting in Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, was held on April 16 and 23.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}