Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is globally celebrated for his phenomenal acting and iconic screen presence. However, there was a time in his life when he took a brief detour from cinema to try his hand at politics. At that time, he was at the absolute peak of his film career, delivering blockbuster hits continuously. Despite his immense cinematic success, he entered the political arena and won, but his stint in politics was remarkably short-lived.
The Gandhi Family Connection and Entry into Politics
Amitabh Bachchan shared a deeply personal and close bond with the Gandhi family. His mother, Teji Bachchan, and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi shared a warm friendship. Following the tragic assassination of Indira Gandhi, amidst massive political turmoil, Rajiv Gandhi persuaded his childhood friend Amitabh to join politics. Despite being at the zenith of his acting career, Amitabh took a break from films to contest the elections.
In the 1984 Lok Sabha elections, Amitabh contested on a Congress ticket from the high-profile Allahabad constituency and secured a massive victory against veteran politician Hemwati Bahuguna, stunning political pundits nationwide.
'I Had No Idea There Was So Much Poverty'
Veteran political journalist and author Tavleen Singh recently opened up about Amitabh's political journey. Having interviewed the actor right after his grand electoral win, Tavleen revealed that Amitabh told her he had no prior idea about the extent of poverty in the country. Witnessing grassroots realities firsthand was an eye-opener for the superstar.
Why Did He Quit Within Three Years?
Amitabh's political career was short-lived. He stepped down and distanced himself from politics in 1987, just three years into his term. According to Tavleen Singh and various reports, the primary reasons for his exit were the infamous Bofors scandal allegations and a growing distance from the Gandhi family.
Tavleen claimed that the Bachchan family was deeply distressed by the accusations leveled against them in the Bofors case. अमिताभ was reportedly hurt that Rajiv Gandhi and the party establishment did not adequately defend his family during the crisis. Years later, in 2012, a Swedish investigator clarified that Amitabh's name had been maliciously dragged into the controversy. Nevertheless, Bachchan never looked back at politics, dedicating the rest of his life purely to cinema.
'The Freelance' does not independently verify claims made in archival interviews and social media anecdotes. This report is based on historical political accounts and interviews. Video/Image Credits: Respective social media handles/creators.
