Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth enter politics, here are other actors who turned politicians

South superstar Kamal Haasan has launched his own political party — Makkal Needhi Maiam — and Rajinikanth, too, has announced his intent to take the plunge soon. These two megastars join the ranks of other entertainers who have been part of the political world. While some of them had a successful run, others bowed out after a short tryst. Here’s looking at who shone and who faded out...

AMITABH BACHCHAN

DROPPED OUT

Amitabh Bachchan, who had close ties with the Gandhi family, contested the Lok Sabha elections as a Congress candidate from Allahabad in 1984 and won by a huge margin. However, his political career was short-lived as he resigned from politics within three years.

SHATRUGHAN SINHA

SUCCESSFUL

The actor contested the by-elections for Delhi in 1992 against Rajesh Khanna. Though he lost the Delhi seat, 18 years later, he fought and won the Patna seat during the general elections in 2009.

HEMA MALINI

SUCCESSFUL

In 1999, Hema campaigned for fellow actor Vinod Khanna, a BJP candidate from Gurdaspur Punjab, and later, the Dream Girl herself joined the party in 2004. She contested the 2014 general elections from Mathura and has been a Lok Sabha member since then.

KIRRON KHER

SUCCESSFUL

The theatre and film actress was associated with BJP in 2009. In 2014, she won a seat from Chandigarh.

DHARMENDRA

UNSUCCESSFUL

Like his spouse Hema Malini, Garam Dharam also joined BJP in 2004 and won a seat in the Lok Sabha elections from Bikaner. However, after that, he rarely attended the Parliament sessions.

GOVINDA

UNSUCCESSFUL

The actor had joined the Indian National Congress and was elected as a MP for the Mumbai North Constituency of Maharashtra, in 2004. Before his term ended in 2009, Govinda decided to quit politics and concentrate on his film career.

CHIRANJEEVI

ALLY-IN-DEMAND

After launching his own political party, Praja Rajyam, in 2008 and becoming the Member of the State Assembly from Tirupati, the South superstar merged his party with Congress in 2011. But the party faced defeat and since then, Chiranjeevi has been unable to make a comeback to politics.

RAJ BABBAR

SUCCESSFUL

This theatre and film actor took to politics in 1989 when he joined Janata Dal led by VP Singh. Since then, Raj Babbar has been active in the field though he has changed three parties in his political journey. Currently, he is a part of the Indian National Congress.