Actor-politician Raj Babbar is surprised and upset with news reports that he has opted to campaign as a Congress candidature from the Ghaziabad Lok Sabha constituency instead of shooting for Boney and Sanjay Kapoor's "Tevar".
Flabbergasted, he said: "Headlines like 'Raj Babbar Chooses Roles Over Poles' sacrifice basic decency to grab attention. These reports give out a terribly wrong and unfair signal. I am not a first-time elector. I've been balancing my film and political careers for 20 years. Has any producer ever complained?"
Babbar says he had explicitly made it clear that he wouldn't be able to shoot with the "Tevar" team during the first phase of the campaigning.
"It wasn't as if I informed them as an afterthought that I couldn't shoot. I had told them beforehand about my plans in Ghaziabad. I had offered to complete my shooting before the campaigning. They were not ready," he said.
He says the shoot isn't a small schedule, and requires around 15 days.
"I very clearly told them of my plans. I am not running away anywhere," Raj Babbar said.
"The least one expects is for my own fraternity (the film industry) to co-operate. I am not asking for shooting to be held up because of my election commitment. I am just asking for some scheduling adjustment. Is that too much to ask for," he asked.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
