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A galaxy of film stars emerged as both victors and losers in the recently concluded general election in India.

The election saw a coalition led by the incumbent Prime Minister’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerge victorious, though with a reduced majority.

An alliance led by the Indian National Congress was the second largest political bloc.

Several winners contested on the BJP ticket. Outspoken Bollywood A-lister Kangana Ranaut (“Tejas”) became a first-time member of parliament, winning from her hometown Mandi. Hema Malini (“Shimla Mirchi”), known as “Dream Girl,” won the Mathura constituency for the third time.

The BJP, a Hindu nationalist party, saw Arun Govil, famous for playing Hindu God Rama in the series “Ramayana,” win from the Meerut constituency. Earlier this year, Govil played a character based on Modi in the film “Article 370.”

Manoj Tiwari, a superstar of Bhojpuri-language cinema, won the Northeast Delhi seat for the third time. Another star of Bhojpuri and Hindi-language cinema, Ravi Kishan (“Laapataa Ladies”), retained his Gorakhpur seat.

The BJP achieved a maiden victory in the southern Indian state of Kerala with Suresh Gopi (“Garudan”) winning the Thrissur constituency.

In Andhra Pradesh, Telugu-language cinema star Pawan Kalyan (“Bro”) of BJP ally Jana Sena Party won the Pithapuram seat.

The opposition Trinamool Congress, based in West Bengal, had the highest concentration of stars. Trinamool’s Dev Adhikari (“Bagha Jatin”) won the Ghatal constituency for the third time, defeating the BJP’s Hiran Chatterjee (“Thai Curry”).

The BJP's Locket Chatterjee (“Gohin Hridoy”) lost her Hooghly seat to Trinamool's Rachana Banerjee (“Boudi.com”).

Also for Trinamool, Bollywood veteran Shatrughan Sinha (“Do Chehre”) retained his Asansol seat; June Malia (“Dasham Avatar”) won Medinipur; and Satabdi Roy (“Bizli”) won Birbhum for the fourth time.

Bollywood star and Indian National Congress candidate Raj Babbar (“Ek Kori Prem Katha”) lost the Gurgaon constituency to BJP candidate Rao Inderjit Singh.

In Azamgarh, the BJP's Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua (“Fasal”) lost to the Samajwadi Party's Dharmendra Yadav.

Former actor and cabinet minister Smriti Irani, who had defeated the Indian National Congress leader in Amethi in the 2019 general election, lost her seat this time to Congress veteran Kishori Lal Sharma.