Miles to go...
ZIYA US SALAM
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Dharmendra, Govinda and Jayaprada have just completed one year as first-time Lok Sabha MPs. Have they been able to balance the two careers? Find out...
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The language of politics is different from the language of films. JAYAPRADA
PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT.
IN STEP: Jayaprada keeps pace with her constituency though her film career suffers.
IT TOOK Govinda, first-time Lok Sabha MP from North Bombay, exactly a year before we could hear his voice in Parliament. It has been a longer wait for Dharmendra, who does not make a secret of not believing "in raising a question in Parliament". Jayaprada, the third angle of a trio of film stars-turned first-time Lok Sabha MPs, has been better, though she has the advantage of a stint in the Rajya Sabha earlier. However, a year after the stars kicked up the dust on the election campaign, they are still to find their feet in Parliament.
What's more, none of them has scored at the box office either. Dharmendra's much-talked about "Kis Kiski Kismat" with Mallika Sherawat disappeared so fast everywhere, including his own constituency Bikaner, that one wondered what the fuss was all about! And does one even know that "Hum Kaun Hain" was released?
Govinda has not had a hit for seven years - the last being "Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan". His first year as a politician only saw the much-delayed "Khullam Khulla Pyar Karen" kissing the silver screen for a fleeting week. And Jayaprada? Well, her long awaited "Deh", said to be similar to "Astitva" with the star MP doing probably the boldest role of her career, is still to be released. Clearly, it is less than easy to run more than one career at a time for our debutant star MPs.
Defends Dharmendra, who has even been quoted that he may not contest the next elections, as he is not enjoying politics, "I don't believe in the word politics. I fought the elections at the insistence of Hemaji. Over a period of time I realised it was not meant for me. Still, once I have entered, I am giving it the best I could. I am committed to the people of Bikaner. Being the son of a farmer, I understand the problems of farmers. Education and water are the priority areas in Bikaner."
PHOTOS: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY.
NEITHER SEEN NOR HEARD: Dharmendra and Govinda are not always seen at the Parliament or their constituencies.
Matters little that the soft romantic hero of yesteryear is hardly ever seen in Bikaner. Nor is he in Parliament often enough.
Similar charges are levelled against Govinda, though the muck does not stick with Jayaprada. While Govinda is yet to have an office in his constituency, Jayaprada visits her constituency at least five days a month, reaching remote villages.
Meanwhile, the Congress and the Samajwadi MPs took turns to go to Shimoga this past week to canvas for their party candidates. Gushes Jayaprada, "I spoke in Kannada for the first time. It is one thing to act in Kannada films, another to give a speech in front of a thousand people. Filmon ki bhasha aur rajniti ki bhasha alag hoti hai."While Govinda is targeting the have-nots - even if he is seldom in his constituency - Jayaprada who won the elections as much due to her screen image of a conservative, dutiful housewife, as to any other factor, is now targeting women. "I have to. If despite being a woman I don't do anything for them, my conscience will rebel. I have got two acres of land from the Chief Minister for local handicraft work. Mostly women work in zardozi. We are taking export officers there to improve the work quality so these artists can compete at places like Dilli Haat or other exhibition centres in Noida or Lucknow. Recently, we took a woman artist to Mauritius. Besides, we are also arranging for life insurance of Rs.6000 for poor women, mostly bidi workers. Also, we have opened six stitching centres."
There is more, she claims. "We have been able to set up a women's police station. And we are still waiting for permission for a jail hospital for women. However, we have got an intensive care unit in the Government hospital now. Also, Rs.25 lakhs have been earmarked for a blood bank in Rampur."
Hang on, the lady has done her homework. "We have got land for a degree college in Shahbad. And as one can see, the roads are better. Bridges are coming up and the sugar mill revival will improve employment."
She is also trying to make madrasas in Rampur computer-friendly, she claims. "We have given Rs.5 lakh for madrasas. But in Rampur, even Government colleges lack the infrastructure for computer teaching. Now, we have got computers installed."
Having reeled off a list of "achievements" in one year, she turns defensive if one focuses on either her film career or the opposition within the party.
Apparently, the sitting MLA from Rampur, Azam Khan, is the biggest hurdle the beautiful lady has to cross when it comes to development. Incidentally, Govinda is said to be finding things difficult due to factionalism within his party.
"I have the people's love and the blessings of Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav). I am working within my limitations. I am concentrating on electrification of the place. A sum of Rs.300 crore is needed. Within two years there will be complete electrification of the constituency," she rattles off the list of her achievements for the annual report card.
Govinda is said to have done something similar. He is intent on beautifying Borivali railway station and working for better basic amenities in the area. More than a crore rupees have been earmarked for improving the water situation, while another Rs.25 lakhs have been given away for tsunami relief.
Again, Jayaprada is able to spin the right lines for the media. "I am here as a worker of the Samajwadi Party. Let people talk of politics. I am here for development. The individual is not important, the party is," she says, refusing to even name Azam Khan.
Stagnating careers
Amidst all this political brinkmanship, her film career has stagnated. As has that of Govinda, who has not signed any film in recent times and whose attempts to change his image were nullified with his home productions "Sukh" and "Seva" finding no takers and K.C. Bokadia's "Jo Hoga Dekha Jayega" still pending.
Jayaprada, though, has signed an N. Chandra film opposite Amitabh Bachchan and another, "College Campus" where she plays a principal while "Tathastu" and "Deh" are awaiting release. Dharmendra, meanwhile, wants to do a "Black"!
So all said and seen, the lady, now preparing for a performance of Amrapali in Mumbai later this month, has her nose in front of the men. Defends Dharmendra, "Even if you have noble intentions you can't do much. Only stars can't be blamed". The man has spoken, finally!
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