Quiz on actors who became politicians

On October 27, 1964, actor Ronald Reagan delivered a resounding address in support of the Republican candidate for President, Barry Goldwater. This week’s quiz is all about actors who joined politics.

1. Which Indian actor lost the New Delhi seat narrowly to LK Advani in the 1991 Parliamentary elections, but contested and won the 1992 by-elections from the same seat, defeating Shatrughan Sinha?

2. Easy — In 2003, which actor became the first ever sportsperson to be elected to the Rajya Sabha? He was also formerly the President of the Jat Mahasabha.

3. While LK Advani is remembered for his ‘Ram Rath Yatra’ in 1991, which other actor turned politician first used a rath to campaign in his state in 1983?

4. Which actor married Democratic President John F Kennedy’s niece Maria Shriver but became the Republican governor of his state in 2003?

5 This actor started her film career at the tender age of three, and retired from films when she was just 22. She unsuccessfully ran for elections as a Republican candidate in 1956, but later went on serve as the US ambassador to Ghana and also Czechoslovakia. Identify this child star.

6. Gina Lollobrigida is remembered for films such as Come September , but she also had political ambitions and unsuccessfully campaigned to be a member of the European parliament. She was however much more successful in her career as a celebrity photojournalist. Which politican’s interview in the early ’70s by Lollobrigida was regarded as a significant scoop?

7. She was born in poverty in the village of Los Toldos in 1919. She met her husband while performing in a charity event in 1944. Other than heading the ministries of labour and health, she also championed women’s suffrage in her country. Name this iconic actress.

8. Originally from a regional party in South India and later representing them in the Rajya Sabha in 1996, she quit and joined the Samajwadi Party, contesting and winning the Rampur constituency in 2004. Identify this leading actress of the ’80s.

9. Joseph Estrada was one of the biggest film stars in his country, starring in over a hundred films. He entered politics, first as a mayor in 1969, culminating with his election as the President of his country in 1998. In which country was Joseph Estrada a star?

10. Which actor, who describes himself as a Libertarian and gave a famous speech in the 2012 Republican National Convention in support of Mitt Romney, was elected as the Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea in California in 1986?

Answers

1. Rajesh Khanna, who was an active campaigner for the Indian National Congress in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections

2. Legendary wrestler Dara Singh

3. NT Rama Rao, who launched the Telugu Desam party in the early ’80s

4. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was originally from Austria

5. Shirley Temple Black, who was Hollywood’s top box office draw during 1935-38

6. Fidel Castro, who had boycotted the western press for over a decade

7. Eve Maria Duarte de Peron, better known as Eva Peron

8. Jayaprada, who was originally with the Telugu Desam Party

9. The Philippines; he was also the former Mayor of Manila

10. Clint Eastwood

Joy Bhattacharjya is a quizmaster

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