Bangalore:
Actor Hema Malini has been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. She was the BJP's candidate. Her victory was preordained because of the BJP's strength in the Karnataka Assembly. (
See Pictures)
But not everybody thought that it was a dream come true for Karnataka to have the original dream girl represent the state in Parliament. 106 MLAs voted for her, 94 didn't want the Dream Girl. Her opponent, writer K Marulsidappa, agrees with views expressed by his literary friends including Girish Karnad who questioned the casting for this political role.
"Hema Malini as an artist - I respect her. But Hema Malini as a candidate for Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, I don't accept her. This contest is about Karnataka's pride -whether Karnataka is going to accept outsiders continuously. Venkaiah Naidu is there - and again Hema Malini," said Mr Marulsidappa.
"As a film star I have been coming here a lot. I am an artist basically...I don't know why when I am coming to Karnataka people had the feeling - oh, she should not come - I found it very funny because I belong to all of you. Everybody. Whole country," said Ms Malini.
When she filed her nomination nearly a week ago, Hema Malini declared her net worth is over Rs. 35 crore. Her assets include four houses in Mumbai and four cars. And an impressive Bollywood bio-data.