The recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections showcased a notable turnout of Bollywood celebrities exercising their right to vote, although several high-profile figures were noticeably absent from the polling booths. Among the missing were icons like Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya Bachchan, and their son Abhishek Bachchan. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, along with Shah Rukh Khan and his family, also chose to skip the elections, as confirmed by reports.
Other prominent names absent from the elections included Madhuri Dixit, Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Ajay Devgn, Farhan Akhtar, Sonakshi Sinha, Kajol, Karan Johar, and Rani Mukerji. The reasons for these celebrities not participating in the voting process have not been publicly addressed.
Conversely, many other Bollywood stars took part in the civic duty, including Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Shraddha Kapoor, and Kareena Kapoor Khan, among others. Gulzar, the esteemed poet and lyricist, made a significant appearance to cast his vote at 91 years of age, earning admiration from fans and fellow voters. Notable actresses Saira Banu, Hema Malini, and Shabana Azmi were also present at their polling locations.
The polling process started on January 15 at 7:30 am and wrapped up at 5:30 pm, impacting major municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the significant cities of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and many others. This civic exercise reinforces the importance of participation in democracy and reflects the varying degrees of engagement from public figures. While some of the industry’s giants were absent, the presence of many celebrities highlights a positive trend in electoral participation among Bollywood personalities.