<p>Popular Bollywood actor Urmila Matondkar on Wednesday joined Congress here asserting that her political views have been shaped by the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel.</p>.<p>Urmila, 45, met Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who welcomed her in the party with a bouquet of flowers amid buzz about her being fielded from the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat against BJP leader Gopal Shetty.</p>.<p>“I am here to stay – even after elections,” she said at a press conference at the AICC Headquarters here flanked by newly appointed Mumbai Regional Congress Committee President Milind Deora and his predecessor Sanjay Nirupam.</p>.<p>“She is not just one of India's finest artists, but someone who is extremely opinionated on issues affecting our society,” Deora said welcoming Urmila in the party.</p>.<p>Urmila made her film debut as a child artiste in a Marathi movie 'Zaakol' in 1980 but was noticed for her performance in Shekhar Kapur's 'Masoom' in 1983.</p>.<p>She shot to fame with Ram Gopal Verma's 'Rangeela' and is known for her performances in Bollywood flicks such as 'Daud', 'Judaai', 'Satya', 'Chamatkaar' among others.</p>.<p>She has also featured in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil films and more recently has been appearing as a judge on television dance reality shows.</p>.<p>Another filmstar – Govinda – had earned the sobriquet of a 'giant-killer' after he defeated the then Union Minister and BJP candidate Ram Naik in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.</p>
<p>Popular Bollywood actor Urmila Matondkar on Wednesday joined Congress here asserting that her political views have been shaped by the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel.</p>.<p>Urmila, 45, met Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who welcomed her in the party with a bouquet of flowers amid buzz about her being fielded from the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat against BJP leader Gopal Shetty.</p>.<p>“I am here to stay – even after elections,” she said at a press conference at the AICC Headquarters here flanked by newly appointed Mumbai Regional Congress Committee President Milind Deora and his predecessor Sanjay Nirupam.</p>.<p>“She is not just one of India's finest artists, but someone who is extremely opinionated on issues affecting our society,” Deora said welcoming Urmila in the party.</p>.<p>Urmila made her film debut as a child artiste in a Marathi movie 'Zaakol' in 1980 but was noticed for her performance in Shekhar Kapur's 'Masoom' in 1983.</p>.<p>She shot to fame with Ram Gopal Verma's 'Rangeela' and is known for her performances in Bollywood flicks such as 'Daud', 'Judaai', 'Satya', 'Chamatkaar' among others.</p>.<p>She has also featured in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil films and more recently has been appearing as a judge on television dance reality shows.</p>.<p>Another filmstar – Govinda – had earned the sobriquet of a 'giant-killer' after he defeated the then Union Minister and BJP candidate Ram Naik in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.</p>
