Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan recently opened up about his days in politics. In a new clip from the latest episode of his quiz-based reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati, the veteran actor is seen talking to a contestant while he spoke about his political journey.
Amitabh Bachchan reveals why he left politics
In the video, he can be heard saying, “I left (politics) in a very emotional state. My birthplace was Allahabad (now Prayagraj). The people there loved me a lot. I got a vote and won the election. But when I spent a few days there, I realised that this is a very difficult task. You have to look at this side, look at that side, listen to that side, how to answer this, how to do this. It`s very difficult”.
Additionally, the veteran actor called his time in politics a learning curve, as he reflected, “But let me tell you, the experience I had at that time, the two years I spent there, were very precious for me. Because the real life of India lives in our inner villages. From here, I came to know how the people there live, what they do. And they give so much respect whenever someone comes to fight in the election. They respect it in their own way. This must have happened to you too”.
Amitabh Bachchan`s political career
For the unversed, Big B has had a limited but notable stint with politics. He joined the Indian National Congress (INC) after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and allegedly gave an inflammatory speech after the former Prime Minister`s assassination. That year, he went on to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Allahabad (now Prayagraj) and won with a record margin of over 1 million votes, marking one of the largest electoral victories in India`s history.
During his brief political career, Big B focused on cultural and social issues, leveraging his celebrity status to draw attention to public causes. However, his association with politics quickly became controversial. In 1987, allegations surfaced linking him to financial irregularities connected to the Bofors scandal, although he was never formally charged. The scrutiny and pressure surrounding these allegations, combined with his discomfort in navigating political life, led him to resign from active politics in the same year.
After his resignation, he distanced himself from political involvement, returning fully to his film career, but occasionally lent his voice to public campaigns.
(With inputs from IANS)
