Bihar’s ‘sunshine kids’ opt to act and play - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Bihar’s ‘sunshine kids’ opt to act and play

Hindustan Times | By, Patna
Aug 16, 2010 12:38 PM IST

Bihar is producing a new genre of artists and professionals, notwithstanding strong roots in politics. And though they may not act in Gangajal or Shool, they are making a name on the screen and the cricket field, says Anirban Guha Roy.

That politicians' sons would be politicians and doctors' wards doctors, is a concept which has been just thrown out of the window.

HT Image
HT Image

Forget Rahul Gandhi, or a Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin pilot. They may have carried on in their family's footsteps and are deserving of the same. But Bihar's own political brood are dissimilar-not willing to take the beaten political path. They in fact shun it, are uncomfortable of the media gaze and are willing to foot it out and create their own place under the sun..

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Bihar's 'baba logs' and chotti mems are going the other way-taking to the screen, cricket, law and even management and medicine.

Take the case of Bihar’s best-known political face, RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Lalu has two sons, Tej Pratap and Tejaswi Yadav. While Tejaswi is pursuing a career in cricket and has secured a berth in IPL team Delhi Daredevils, his elder brother Tej Pratap is now aspiring to become a pilot. Pratap has recently joined the Bihar Flying Club to take a private commercial license after taking a test. “Tej Pratap has a passion for flying,” said an insider of the Lalu family. Yes, RJD chief himself has not talked about his eldest son’s love but does speak about Tejaswi’s cricketing skills and often has thrown his weight to get him into the junior national team. Lalu's daughters Misa and Rohini are both doctors while Hema and Ragini are pursuing engineering degrees. Chanda wants to be an interior decorator.

Lalu’s bete noire and Bihar’s deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi is also averse to the idea of his two sons, Utkarsh Tathaghat and Akshay Amritanshu ( both in early 20s) joining politics. Tathagat is pursuing engineering in Bangalore while his younger brother, Akshay is studying law at Bhopal. But in Modi’s family, Akshay has not been able to chase his dream of becoming a cricketer despite having played at the national level with Lalu’s son, Tejaswi.

“It is true, Akshay wanted to be a cricketer. But I felt a professional course would be better for his career instead of sports or politics, where opportunities are limited,” said Modi, sounding like a possessive father. “I belong to a humble background and have seen the ups and downs in life. This I why, I want my sons to settle down and be financially independent,” he said. Modi does not see "No chance of my sons joining politics. I have even denied them my surname". For as he says , "Rajniti is not everyone's cup of tea. It requires financial backing, which I do not have".

Lok Janskakti Party chief, Ram Vilas Paswan has kept his only son, Chiraag away from the limelight like Modi. Though he has helped Papa Paswan occasionally in electioneering, his dad is happy at his son’s success in Bollywood and even talks about it in political functions.

Chiraag recently signed a film with Kangana Ranaut in the female lead.

“My son does not need a reserved political seat or job as he has taken up a career in films. That is a good sign,” he says with a glint in his eyes.

" Yes, Chirag with his tough looks and long stylish hair has a film tucked away with the name 'One and only", which his dad thinks fits his style, image and worth.."

There is more connection of Bollywood and state’s politicos. Actor turned politician, Shatrughan Sinha’s three children, twin sons, Luv and Kush and daughter Sonakshi are now in films instead of politics.

While Sonakshi, a model has signed a film, Luv has already worked in another flick, Sadiyaan. Kush is also into acting but keen on directing films too. Shotgun Sinha loves it that way. “ If they want, they can join politics later. It is upto them to choose,” he said.

Why forget the dapper-dasher Adhyayan Suman-the ‘Haley Dil’ and ‘Jashn’ hero and son of Shekhar Suman, actor turned politician?

In fact, state’s politicians have a close connection with films as a former Chief Minister Satish Kumar had acted in films like Lalu, who did a cameo role in a flick named after him, Padmashree Laloo Prasad. It is worth mentioning that Bhojpuri films’ first big name, Kunal is a son of late Buddhadev Singh, a PWD minister in K B Sahay’s government in late 60s.

Surely, Bihar’s politicos have a reason to smile as their children are scripting success stories in their own domain without banking on their ready made launching pads to Rajneeti?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On