Bollywood personalities cast their votes, urge people to join in numbers

Mumbai, Apr 30 (ANI): Leading personalities of the tinsel town of Bollywood queued up at various polling stations in Mumbai to cast their votes in the third phase of elections to the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Ten parliamentary constituencies in Mumbai and Thane districts went to the polls today, which incidentally culminates the general elections in Maharashtra.

Among the stalwarts from Bollywood who came forth early to cast their votes were the successful director-cum-producer Karan Johar, Oscar award winning lyricist and filmmaker, Gulzar, actor Rahul Bose, John Abraham, Amrita Rao, Paresh Rawal and legendary actors such as Prem Chopra and Rishi Kapoor.

Director Karan Johar was of the view that the citizens should collectively take the country forward by electing the right candidates as their representatives.

"We teach everyone to go up there and cast their votes for a better tomorrow in the country. Over and above we are on our way of being a very fast developing nation and I think there may be some road blocks but we can still achieve that goal and I think with the right people at the helm of things, we will take India forward," said Karan Johar, ace Bollywood director-cum-producer.

Actor Rahul Bose, who exercised his electoral franchise at a polling booth in the Peddar Road area of south Mumbai, said that whosoever comes to power, he/she should treat all 'Mumbaikers' (residents of Mumbai) equally.

Indeed, it was a taunting remark at several fundamentalists like the Thackerays who have been spitting venom at non-Maharashtrians.

"We look for candidates who will look at the very rich and the very poor equally - that for me is a big thing. A sense of inclusiveness - not Maharashtra, non-Maharashtrian, not someone from north India, non-north Indian; a sense of inclusiveness including for women, safety for women and a sense of compassion," said Bose.

"The fact that at the end of the day is that we are all one city and whether it's a flood or bomb blasts, ultimately we have to be treated like one city. That's the most important thing," observed actor Rahul Bose.

Actor John Abraham urged the young electorates to come out and exercise their adult franchise.

"All I want to say to the youngsters is that they should come out and cast their votes. Please come out and vote," said John Abraham.

The constituencies where polling took place today were Mumbai North, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai South; Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Palghar. By Parihash Hate (ANI)