The recent demise of the legendary Bollywood star Dharmendra, fondly known as ‘He-Man,’ at the age of 89, brings to light a less-discussed chapter of his life – his political engagement in Bikaner, Rajasthan. His term as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, from his election in 2004 to his eventual departure from politics, presents a unique narrative of an actor navigating the complexities of public service.
Dharmendra’s political journey commenced in 2004 when he contested and won the Lok Sabha seat from Bikaner, Rajasthan, on a BJP ticket. His sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, were actively involved in campaigning for him during this period. He secured a decisive victory, defeating Rameshwar Lal Dudi of the Congress party by an impressive 57,000 votes. This electoral success marked his sole participation in parliamentary elections.
His tenure as an MP was not without its trials. Approximately a year after his election, the city of Bikaner became the backdrop for a peculiar protest: ‘missing’ posters of Dharmendra appeared across the town. This public outcry was reportedly a reaction to his prolonged absence from the constituency, with residents expressing their dissatisfaction over their representative’s lack of presence and engagement.
Following this incident, Dharmendra made a dedicated effort to mend his relationship with his constituents. He visited Bikaner and stayed at the Circuit House, making himself accessible to the public and listening to their concerns. He also took a proactive role in the restoration of Bikaner’s Sursagar lake. He discussed the project with the then-Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and even pursued central government funding to overcome budgetary constraints. Despite his significant contributions, the credit for the Sursagar restoration predominantly went to the Chief Minister, impacting public perception of Dharmendra’s role.
Dharmendra eventually found that politics did not align with his personal inclinations. After completing his five-year term as MP, he chose not to contest in the 2009 general elections, signaling his permanent exit from the political arena. He then returned to Mumbai and focused on his film career. While his wife, Hema Malini, and son, Sunny Deol, have continued to be involved in politics, Dharmendra remained firm in his decision to leave politics, stating that he felt it was not the right environment for him.