Making electoral entry from Mathura was my destiny: Hema Malini

, April 7: In the Lok Sabha polls fray from Mathura on

ticket, yesteryears' heart-throb

on Monday said she was destined to make electoral entry from the land of

which she opted over Noida and Ghaziabad.

However, she said she is not nervous as she was before release of her debut movie "Sapnon Ka Saudagar".

Noting that the party gave her three options, Mathura, Noida and Ghaziabad, the veteran actress said she chose Mathura because she always wanted to do something for this place.

"Mathura is my dream and I even told (BJP President) Rajnath Singh about it. When you think about Mathura-Vrindavan the first thing that comes to your mind is Krishna and Brij. But the whole region lacks cleanliness, which is my first priority. I want better sewage systems and revival of for Brij encompassing Barsana, Nandgaon and Gokul."

Up against sitting MP Jayant Chaudhary, son of Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh, the actress said, "Definitely, people want change. The person (sitting MP) who is here for last five years has not done anything. People say that he doesn't even come here. He hardly came here five-six times."

Mathura is going to polls on April 24.

Mathura is going to polls on April 24.

"If you look at it spiritually, people say that without the permission of Radhaji, nobody can enter or leave Brij. So, it is also due to her blessings that I am here," 65-year-old 'dreamgirl' told PTI in an interview.

She makes a visit to this temple-town every three months, she said.

"People even say I own a house in Vrindavan though I don't, but what can be better than to be associated with this land," she added.

Dismissing the notion that due to her stardom she cannot gel with voters, the actress and well-known dancer said, "I don't have to get down and go to every house like my opponents are doing. I have got enough love and affection from the people and will do the work from wherever I am elected" while exuding confidence that this adulation and love will translate into votes.

Responding to Singh's comments that like her husband Dharmendra, she would not stay here but run away, she said her husband had done enough work for Bikaner when he was the MP from there.

"Dharamji did not run away. He executed a lot of work in Bikaner. His opponents tried to mislead people but Dharamji is so sweet, he never complained. I have the record of the work done by him in his constituency. You please go through that," she said.

On her priorities for Mathura, Hema Malini said that cleanliness and revival of the Brij area and better connectivity were her main objectives.

"It is our duty to revive this holy region. There should be better connectivity through rail or monorail," she said.

The Rajya Sabha MP also said that her acting and dance career will continue.

"I will live here and in Mumbai also. I will keep doing whatever work I get acting-wise and my dance will also continue," she said.

As to Amar Singh's allegation that she is unaware of issues like the land acquisition law, etc., she said she was ready to engage with such things as part of active politics.

"Amar Singhji is my good friend, but he is in a rival party, so let him speak, I don't mind it," she said.

On being termed an 'outsider' in certain quarters, she said that with an outsider's perspective, she can see the reality and understand that things can be better.

"I have been trained well by the party. I have been a star 'pracharak' for 8-10 years and toured every part of the country. I know how to deal with people and it is easier to deal with the villagers as city crowds can sometimes become unruly," she said.

She is confident that Narendra Modi will become the next prime minister as there is a wave in his favour sweeping the country.

"He (Modi) has achieved progress in his state and has got great vision. If he becomes prime minister and I am here, then this combo can work wonders for Brij. My priority will always be Mathura and in the future, the party will decide about any other role," she said.

PTI