Filmmaker-actor Mahesh Manjrekar's decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North-West as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate may have surprised everyone except the filmmaker himself. He says it was not an &ldquo;overnight&rdquo; decision.
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&ldquo;It isn't an overnight decision,&rdquo; said Manjrekar who claims that he has known Raj Thackeray for 25 years and that his films often showed his political bent of mind.
&ldquo;If you see my films, whether it is 'Vaastav', 'Kuruskshetra' or 'Viruddh', there is always a very strong undercurrent of political anger in them. I am not a glamorous film person who has overnight decided to join politics. Politics, specially Maharashtra's politics, has been part of my bloodstream.&rdquo;
What is surprising is his leap into the Lok Sabha fray.
&ldquo;I thought I'd go into the legislative assembly because my concern is the politics of Maharashtra. I never thought I'd try to go to the Lok Sabha. I had spoken to Raj Thackeray a year-and-a-half ago about wanting to get into the legislative council. But now that I am fielding myself for the Lok Sabha, I'd still like to think of myself as a politician from Maharashtra who would get a wider platform to help the State.&rdquo;
He is not daunted by the MNS' controversial image.
&ldquo;What controversy? Have you read the statements on rape allegedly made by a prominent politician of Uttar Pradesh? We are faced with an acute crisis of morality in Indian politics. The time for dilly-dallying is over. If we care to save the country from the politics of such highly dangerous bigots, we have to act fast,&rdquo; said Manjrekar whose &ldquo;Astitva&rdquo; was a bold statement on women and their rights.
He has already planned out a clear strategy on how to go about implementing his ideas once he is elected.
&ldquo;The things is, every elected parliamentarian is seen by the common people as the face of Indian politics. When I go to under-developed areas of Maharashtra, I am asked to help the poor people overcome the water shortage. How do I explain to these desperately poor people that it's not my job to ensure them a water supply?
"For the 35 municipal wards in my constituency, I will appoint 38 officers who will look into every problem of each ward and report to me directly. That would ensure accountability from every corner of my constituency even when I may not be able to be personally present everywhere all the time.&rdquo;
As for finding time to fulfil all his political duties, Manjrekar laughed. &ldquo;I only need 70 days during the year to attend parliament. The rest of the time can be utilized as and how I wish. I used to follow a no-work policy on Sundays. Now I'll be devoting Sundays to the people and problems of my constituency.&rdquo;
Now that he has such lofty political plans do we see the end of Manjrekar's career as a filmmaker and actor?
&ldquo;Definitely, I won't be acting anymore for now. But the filmmaker in me would never be out of work. I'll make sure that I earn my living by directing films so that I never have to look towards politics to earn money. This is my method of ensuring complete honesty in my political life.&rdquo;
Buzz has it that his family has opted to not participate in his political campaign.
&ldquo;Not true!&rdquo; protests Mahesh. &ldquo;My wife has been with me to a number of political events. As for my children I don't want to put them under pressure. Why bring them in unnecessarily? In fact, my daughter just called saying she'd like to join me in my campaign. I told her to chill.&rdquo;
Meanwhile his son Satya is preparing for a career as a leading man in films.
&ldquo;He's signed two Marathi films on his own without my recommendation or intervention. That's a big relief for me. I don't have to worry about his career. I am relatively free now to devote myself to the politics of Maharashtra.&rdquo;

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Filmmaker-actor Mahesh Manjrekar's decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North-West as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate may have surprised everyone except the filmmaker himself

Politics has been part of my bloodstream: Mahesh Manjrekar

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Politics has been part of my bloodstream: Mahesh Manjrekar

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