Any film of the Bollywood stars and Television actors is refrained from being telecasted on the national television channel Doordarshan. This applies to the movies of only those stars who are contesting Lok Sabha Elections like Hema Malini, Jaya Prada, Smriti Irani, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Nagma etc. The showcasing of movies has been banned after programmes and films were brought under the ambit of the model code of conduct of election, as these are now viewed as objects that can influence voters.
The decision was made as poll panel officials received several complaints stating that undue advantages was being gained by the film and television starsthrough their films and programmes. Election Commission has therefore banned telecasting movies of celebrities that turned politicians, on Doordarshan.However, there is no ban on telecast of their films in cinema halls and private TV channels.
Polling has been completed in parliamentary constituencies from where Raj Babbar (Congress), Nagma (Congress) and Jaya Prada (Rashtriya Lok Dal) are contesting, while polling is yet to take place in concerned constituencies of Hema Malini (BJP), Jaaved (AAP) and Smriti Irani (BJP).
