From On-Screen Elections in ‘Newton’ to Off-Screen Voter Awareness National Icon, it is “Lights, Camera, Vote !” for Rajkummar Rao all the way. Rao today took on a new role – that of ‘National Icon’ for voter awareness and education for the Election Commission of India. An MoU was signed with the “Newton” star for a period of 3 years at an event organized in New Delhi in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel.
Rajkummar Rao, known for his commitment to meaningful cinema and social causes, shared his appreciation for the election officials who in spite of various challenges conduct elections and ensure that no voter is left behind. While expressing concern about the apathy of youth and urban voters towards the electors process, he said “Our collective voice, expressed through our votes, has the power to form a participative democracy’’. Youth is one the biggest stakeholders in this democratic process and urged them to become agents of positive transformation through their vote.
CEC Kumar said “From dazzling audiences on the big screen in various movies, Rajkummar Rao is now taking his star power off-screen to promote an even bigger production: Voter awareness in Elections. His role as Newton, the election officer, truly hit home with the essence of democratic challenges in a Naxal-affected state, making him the perfect choice for the Election Commission. This collaboration aims to harness the influence and popularity of Rajkummar Rao to encourage citizens, especially youth across the nation to participate in the electoral process actively.”
While urging youth to actively participate in elections CEC Kumar said “Once you associate with the electioneering process, you will understand the intrinsic power of democracy and the value of your vote”. He appealed to influencers from all walks of life including the media to promote the importance of voting and in pushing up the voter turnout in forthcoming elections.
Election Commissioner, Anup Chandra Pandey said that it has always been the endeavor of ECI and it keeps experimenting with new initiatives to enhance voter turnout in the elections. He said Rajkummar Rao is an apt choice for a national icon who has acted in a movie based on conducting elections in tough and challenging conditions.
The signing of the MoU with Rao signifies a shared commitment to empower and educate citizens about the importance of exercising their voting rights. The collaboration will encompass a range of activities, including Rao promoting voter awareness in various TV talk shows/ programs and digital campaigns, etc, all aimed at raising awareness about the importance of voting and strengthening the roots of democracy by fostering a more engaged and informed electorate.
Rajkummar Rao received a Filmfare Award and a National Film Award for his role in the 2017 movie ‘Newton’, which was also India’s official entry at the 90th Academy Awards (the Oscars) in the ‘Best Foreign Language Film’ category.