India’s rich and famous cast their votes in the world’s biggest election

Celebrities, industrialists and politicians cast their votes in the world’s largest democracy as polls opened in India’s financial capital for a nationwide election in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking another five-year term.

Voting took place on Monday in six constituencies in Mumbai in the western state of Maharashtra and in 43 others across the country: millions flocked to polling stations to determine who will lead the world’s most populous country.

In India’s richest city and the birthplace of the Bollywood film industry, numerous celebrities were photographed displaying their purple-adorned index fingers as they cast their votes – a sign of having cast their vote in Indian elections.

The ‘King of Bollywood’, Shah Rukh Khan, was seen leaving a polling station in Mumbai with his family – his wife Gauri, daughter Suhana and sons Aryan and Abram. Elsewhere, one of India’s most famous actors, Amitabh Bachchan, also cast his vote at a polling station in the suburb of Andheri.

“As responsible Indian citizens, we must exercise our right to vote in Maharashtra this Monday,” Khan wrote on X over the weekend. “Let us do our duty as Indians and vote in the best interest of our country. Go ahead and exercise our right to vote.”

Film stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, who are expecting their first child this year, were also pictured, as well as billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani with his wife Nita and son Akash.

After casting his vote on Monday, actor Akshay Kumar said he wanted to see India “developed and strong”.

Showing his ink-stained finger to local reporters, he added: “I voted… India should vote for what it thinks is right… I think the turnout will be good.”

But as in previous elections, voter turnout in Mahrashtra remained low on Monday, at 54 percent, according to Election Commission data – in Mumbai’s six constituencies it was 47-55 percent. In comparison, about 73 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the northeastern state of West Bengal, data showed.

The main electoral contenders in the city are Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition Indian National Congress and two rival factions of the Shiv Sena – a local ultra-nationalist group that has long played a key role in Mumbai politics.

Mumbai, a city of over 12 million inhabitants, is often compared to New York and called the “city of dreams” where millions of migrants from all over the country come to seek their fortune and find a purpose in life.

It is a city of extreme wealth and extreme poverty, where skyscrapers tower over slums and poor children beg for money from the windows of chauffeured cars taking their students to school.

And while the rich and famous cast their votes, many of the city’s migrant workers will be left out of the election.

Under India’s electoral laws, eligible voters can only vote in their constituency. This means that those who work outside their state must return home to vote. For many workers from other states, especially disadvantaged daily wage workers in the informal sector, this is almost impossible due to the costs associated with traveling home.

Many voters in Mumbai are concerned about rising inflation and want better education and employment opportunities.

“I want to see a change, things should become less expensive,” 34-year-old grocery store worker Sachin Chaudhary previously told CNN, adding that he also wants better opportunities in the employment sector.

CNN’s Jessie Yeung contributed reporting.

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