BJP MP’s voting moment turns tense amid mismanagement claims at polling booth
January 15, 2026: Veteran actor and BJP MP Hema Malini was among the prominent celebrities who cast their vote on Wednesday as polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections began across Maharashtra. After voting, she proudly displayed her inked finger and addressed the media outside the polling booth. However, the moment took an unexpected turn when some voters questioned the arrangements at the centre, alleging preferential access and poor management.
A video circulating on social media shows a visibly upset voter confronting Hema Malini while she was speaking to reporters. The man complained about long waiting hours and chaos at the polling station, claiming such confusion was unprecedented. As tensions rose, Hema gestured to her team to handle the grievance and then appealed to citizens to actively participate in the democratic process. Stressing the importance of voting, she said it was a fundamental duty of every Mumbaikar, regardless of other commitments.
Several Bollywood celebrities were seen turning up to vote during the day, including Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, John Abraham, Tamannaah Bhatia, Zoya Akhtar, Nana Patekar and Vishal Dadlani. Polling began at 7.30 am and will continue till 5.30 pm, with counting scheduled for January 16. The State Election Commission said extensive arrangements, including thousands of control and ballot units, have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of elections across Maharashtra, with special focus on the high-stakes BMC polls.