Poll Star

On the campaign trail,Tripathi crisscrosses the country,trying to garner votes,fielding questions about Varun Gandhi and keeping the focus on the important issues — development and terrorism. Last week she was in Bihar,next she will head to Rajasthan,Jharkhand,Uttaranchal and Maharashtra,after a stopover in hometown Delhi. “Varun Gandhi is not a criminal,how he can be charged under the National Security Act is beyond me. Development and terrorism are the key issues but,most importantly,I will urge the youth to exercise the right to vote,” she says.

Tripathi became a popular face for her roles in the TV serials Ehsaas and Agneepath on Doordarshan. Now,dressed in a white Lucknawi suit,as she readies for a meeting with senior leaders,the actress insists that political responsibilities have taken over from television. “I did not like the regressive manner in which women were depicted on television,” notes the political science graduate from Hindu College and former faculty member at National School of Drama.

She is till open to films,“if the role are convincing,” says the actress who has been seen in Chalte Chalte and Dushman. “I don’t want to quit films. I want a parallel career. Politicians with another career are incorruptible,” she smiles,as she recalls her debut in Bollywood. “It was in 1998,someone who had seen me act on stage recommended me to Tanuja Chandra for Dushman,” she shares. Several films followed,but when BJP approached her to join them,she could not refuse. “Some other parties had also approached me,but for me (Atal Bihari) Vajpayeeji is an idol and so is Advaniji.” What followed was a balancing act. Even though her duties as the youth leader and appearances in international forums,including the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit held in South Korea in November 2006,kept her occupied,Tripathi managed to be part of the film world too. In 2006,she essayed an unconventional role of a prostitute in the Shrirang Dhawale-directed film Dil Se Pooch¿ Kidhar Jaana Hai and in 2007,she toured Vidarbha for a documentary on farmer suicide. “It’s important to share their misery. I hope to send the film to international forums soon,” says the actress,who also has an international film project lined up. She is also ready to make another debut— as an author,with a book on women. But right now,her favourite role is a real life on— as BJP’s voice to the electorate.