New Delhi: Just two days after joining the party, Congress on Friday fielded Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar from the Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency. The decision to field the actress was taken by the Central Election Committee of the Congress. Urmila will contend Gokulnath Shetty, BJP lawmaker.
A release issued by the AICC General Secretary Mukul Wasnik stated, “The Central Election Committee has approved the candidature of Urmila Matondkar as Congress candidate to contest ensuing general election to the Lok Sabha from Mumbai North Parliamentary constituency of Maharashtra."
The 45-year old actress, after joining the party had said that she felt the need to join the Congress party as the freedom to express was under attack in the country and there are myriad examples in this regard since the past five years. According to her, Congress party has not only stood for freedom but also participated in the freedom struggle.
"I am taking my first step in active politics. I am from a family that has shaped my political views based on the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel. It is another matter that despite being from an academics-oriented family, I joined films. But I had social awareness right from childhood.” She further added, “I know when film stars enter politics, they are expected to pull in voters because of their glamour. I would request you to keep such thoughts away when it comes to me", shared Urmila.
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Urmila Matondkar, primarily known for her work in Hindi films, has also worked in 4 other languages namely Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. She made her Bollywood debut as a child artist in the critically-acclaimed film "Masoom" in the year 1983. Married to Kashmir based businessman and model Mohsin Akhtar Mir, Urmila rose to fame with 1995 blockbuster ‘Rangeela’.