<p>New Delhi: Pankaj Tripathi has voluntarily stepped down as the National Icon of the Election Commission of India (ECI) as the actor is playing a real-life political figure in 'Main Atal Hoon'.</p>.<p>Tripathi, who essays the role of former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the Ravi Jadhav-directed movie, said he had made his mind to step down from the position before the release of the film's trailer.</p>.<p>"It is a normal process. The news has come out now but I had written to the ECI before the release of the film's trailer," the National Award-winning actor told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>The official handle of Spokesperson ECI shared the news on X on Thursday that Tripathi has stepped down as National Icon. He was roped in for the position in October 2022.</p>.<p>'Acknowledging his role as a political leader in an upcoming film, actor @PankajTripathi has voluntarily stepped down as #ECI National Icon as per terms of MoU. #ECI expresses gratitude for his impactful contribution to voter awareness & #SVEEP since Oct 2022,' the post read.</p>.<p>Tripathi, 57, said he liked being associated with the ECI and spreading awareness about their voter programmes.</p>.Main ATAL Hoon: The trailer of former PM Vajpayee’s biopic is out now.<p>'But as an actor, you get to play different kinds of roles and since I was playing a political icon like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I felt it would only be appropriate for me to step down voluntarily,' he added.</p>.<p>Produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Sandeep Singh, and Kamlesh Bhanushali, “Main Atal Hoon” will hit theatres on January 19. Bhavesh Bhanushali and Sam Khan serve as co-producers on the movie.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Pankaj Tripathi has voluntarily stepped down as the National Icon of the Election Commission of India (ECI) as the actor is playing a real-life political figure in 'Main Atal Hoon'.</p>.<p>Tripathi, who essays the role of former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the Ravi Jadhav-directed movie, said he had made his mind to step down from the position before the release of the film's trailer.</p>.<p>"It is a normal process. The news has come out now but I had written to the ECI before the release of the film's trailer," the National Award-winning actor told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>The official handle of Spokesperson ECI shared the news on X on Thursday that Tripathi has stepped down as National Icon. He was roped in for the position in October 2022.</p>.<p>'Acknowledging his role as a political leader in an upcoming film, actor @PankajTripathi has voluntarily stepped down as #ECI National Icon as per terms of MoU. #ECI expresses gratitude for his impactful contribution to voter awareness & #SVEEP since Oct 2022,' the post read.</p>.<p>Tripathi, 57, said he liked being associated with the ECI and spreading awareness about their voter programmes.</p>.Main ATAL Hoon: The trailer of former PM Vajpayee’s biopic is out now.<p>'But as an actor, you get to play different kinds of roles and since I was playing a political icon like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I felt it would only be appropriate for me to step down voluntarily,' he added.</p>.<p>Produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Sandeep Singh, and Kamlesh Bhanushali, “Main Atal Hoon” will hit theatres on January 19. Bhavesh Bhanushali and Sam Khan serve as co-producers on the movie.</p>