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Difficult for actors to speak up as it invites anti-national tag: Urmila Matondkar

Urmila Matondkar, Congress candidate from Mumbai North, says she will raise the issues of housing and unemployment plaguing her city.

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Mumbai: Actor-turned politician Urmila Matondkar said it is wrong to criticise actors for not speaking up on issues, especially at a time when voicing one’s opinion invites the tag of ‘deshdrohi’.

Speaking to ThePrint in an exclusive interview, Matondkar, who recently joined the Congress, said the situation in the country is such that no one except the ruling party is considered to be important, and in such a vulnerable situation, creative people find it difficult to take a stand.

“I genuinely think that actors are the most vulnerable lot in the society. A lot is dependent on the people, and right now the government. Forget the people, nobody is important. There is only one party, which is governing the country, (and) that is important. Then when you are in that vulnerable situation and you are a creative person, it becomes difficult to take a stand,” said Matondkar, famous for her roles in films such as Rangeela, Satya, Kaun and Bhoot.

“Let alone taking a stand, when you are suddenly in a country where even if you speak anything normal it is put against you and made to sound like you are some kind of a deshdrohi (anti-national) and that you should leave the country,” she added.

The Congress recently inducted Matondkar in the party in the presence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and subsequently fielded her from the Mumbai North constituency, which has been a BJP stronghold. Matondkar will take on sitting MP Gopal Shetty, who in 2014 elections had trounced Congress’ Sanjay Nirupam by a margin of 3.8 lakh votes.


Also read: Actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada joins BJP


‘Extremely private person’

Matondkar said she is an extremely private person and being in movies was challenging for her, while politics is a different ballgame.

“My sister was particularly concerned (about Matondkar joining politics) because she knew what kind of a private person I have been. Well, neither there is anything private here nor is there anything normal anymore. A question mark is put on everything and suddenly there is a question mark on my religion, my origin, even my city, and everything. I think it is quite amusing,” said Matondkar, who is married to Kashmir-based businessman and model Mohsin Akhtar Mir.

She added that joining politics was the last thing on her mind even though she was always politically aware. Matondkar said she started thinking about it only when the Congress approached her. “I just thought somebody needs to step up and do the needful and that’s why I am here,” she said.

She added she identifies with the Congress’ ideology.

“Everything that the Congress stands for essentially is what I believe in. My ideology is the same, which is the secular fabric of democracy, equality for everyone, liberalism and progress.”

‘Housing and unemployment biggest issues in Mumbai’

Matondkar said that as a politician from Mumbai she plans to highlight the issues of housing and unemployment.

“I spent my entire morning in the slums and they are living in extremely difficult circumstances. Redevelopment of these areas would be the focus,” the actor said. She added that unemployment is another issue in Mumbai that has not been addressed as seriously as it should have been.

“The unemployment issue has been an issue in Mumbai for a very long time because so many people come to Mumbai hoping for a dream job and a dream life, but it needs to be addressed with more fervour,” Matondkar said, singling out unemployment as the biggest issue concerning the country’s youth today.

“Otherwise, people with degrees will actually have to sell samosas like it was suggested to them by our government,” she added.


Also read: Tom Vadakkan, long time Congress leader, joins BJP


 

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