Actor Swara Bhaskar spent her birthday doing something different this year. She flew to Patna on Tuesday to lend her support to Kanhaiya Kumar, the CPI candidate contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Begusarai.
The actor wanted to be with Kanhaiya who filed his nomination papers on Tuesday.
“It is a rather unusual way of spending one’s birthday. But Kanhaiya is a friend and I think he is fighting an important battle on behalf of us all. If he wins, it will be a victory for Indian democracy,” Swara said in a statement.
“I’ve never been part of a political campaign before so I literally have no idea what to expect,” added the actor, who has always been vocal with her socio-political stance.
In the show of solidarity, veteran lyricist-poet Javed Akhtar and his actor-activist wife Shabana Azmi are also scheduled to reach Bihar to support Kanhaiya.
“We expect them (Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar) to come either for the April 9 show or even later, when the campaigning peaks,” said Kanhaiya’s younger brother Prince.
Swara Bhaskar, who feels aligned to Kanhaiya’s views, shared, “Kanhaiya raises issues that concern all Indians — issues like the threat to the Constitutional values and to the Constitution of India, unemployment, the rise of mob violence, the need for social justice and the need to focus on issues that will better the lives of all Indians. I think as responsible and patriotic Indians we should all feel aligned to this ideology/or thought process.”
Also talking about her birthday memories, the actor said, “My most memorable birthday was in 2012 on the sets of Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai. The producers made sure that I had a very special day. I think I cut some eight cakes that day and we had a rocking party that night.”
On the work front, the actor will be busy with her production venture, Kahaaniwaaley.
She has also finished writing script for a film that she hopes will go on floor this year.
Swara Bhaskar and Kanhaiya Kumar are both former JNU students.