• Source:JND
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Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has ruled the silver screen for decades, once had a short but significant stint in Indian politics. Recently, during an episode of his popular quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati, the veteran actor spoke about that chapter of his life and explained why he eventually stepped away from it. While interacting with a contestant, Bachchan recalled how he entered politics in the mid-1980s and what made him resign just two years later. 

“I left politics in a very emotional state,” Amitabh Bachchan admitted. “My birthplace was Allahabad (now Prayagraj). The people there loved me so much, they gave me their vote and I won the election. But after spending some days in that role, I realised it was a very difficult task. You have to listen to one side, then the other, find answers, make decisions – it is not easy at all.”

The actor, who is fondly known as Big B, described those two years as an important learning experience. He shared that his time as a Member of Parliament helped him understand the struggles of rural India. “The real life of India lives in our villages,” he reflected. “During that time, I learnt how people live there, what they do, and how much respect they give when someone comes forward to fight an election. That experience was very precious for me.”

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Amitabh Bachchan’s Political Journey

Bachchan joined politics in 1984, shortly after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He aligned himself with the Indian National Congress (INC) and contested the Lok Sabha elections from Allahabad. Riding on immense popularity, he achieved a historic victory, winning with a record margin of over one million votes one of the largest in India’s electoral history. During his brief career in politics, Bachchan attempted to use his stardom to bring attention to social and cultural issues. However, his political journey soon became complicated. In 1987, his name surfaced in connection with the Bofors scandal, a major political controversy of the time. Although he was never formally charged, the intense scrutiny and pressure that followed made him deeply uncomfortable. Later that year, he resigned from Parliament and announced his exit from politics.

 
 
 
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After leaving, Bachchan distanced himself from political affairs and returned to films, where he rebuilt his career and image. Over the years, he has occasionally lent his voice to social causes and government campaigns but has never actively returned to politics. Interestingly, politics still remains a part of the Bachchan household. His wife, actress Jaya Bachchan, has built a successful political career of her own. She is currently a Member of Parliament representing the Samajwadi Party.