Bachchan blazed a trail with his victory in 1985

The stars, including A-list legend Dharmendra , are hoping to turn their screen fame into the launchpad for a successful political career.

Cultural commentator Anil Dharker explained to BBC World Service's Outlook programme that while some actors have often merely appeared as the warm-up acts for a political speech, others, such as Dharmendra, are standing for Parliament in their own right.

"When you elect me I will solve all your problems," Dharmendra, who is standing for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has gone on record as saying.

"I will stand on the top of the Houses of Parliament, and shout 'people of Delhi, if you don't listen to me, I will jump'."

Law enforcer

Analysists say there are advantages for both the actors and the political parties in this arrangement.

For the stars, they keep themselves in the public eye and boost their profile, strengthening their appeal.

Sholay's stars Dharmendra and Bachchan have now both stood for Parliament

Meanwhile the parties hope some of the glitz will rub off on them.

However, many of India's top stars are associated more with an image than any firm political convictions, and this may be a double-edged sword.

In a recent interview, Dharmendra declared he didn't "know anything about the BJP's political philosophy".

"All I know is that if I were to be dictator for five years, I would clear up this mess," he added.

The BJP was highly embarrassed by the comments, but Dharmendra was unfazed. He argued that part of his appeal was the way the public perceived him as the character he plays in films - an effective law-enforcer who clears up the mess.

In particular, he stressed this was in contrast to politicians, who are widely distrusted.

But he is not the first such a high-profile Indian star has become political.

Mobbing

Bollywood has been part of Indian elections for years. In 1985, the then-prime minister Rajiv Gandhi asked his friends to help in securing his election.

Rajiv Gandhi was clever with his use of Bollywood glamour

Among those friends was Amitabh Bachchan, the biggest superstar of Indian cinema at the time - and coincidentally, the lead in India's biggest ever movie Sholay, which co-starred Dharmendra.

Gandhi persuaded him to stand as a congressional candidate for Allahabad. He felt Bachchan could beat any politician through his sheer star power - and he was right.

Mr Dharker said he recalled that while it was clear Bachchan would win, it was less clear he would survive the election - young men jumped on the bonnet of Bachchan's car as he drove past, and he was mobbed whenever he tried to meet his potential constituents.

Twenty years later, his co-star Dharmendra is receiving the same treatment - mobbed by fans at meetings and campaign rallies.

"He had such rosy cheeks," one star-struck fan told Outlook as they went to vote.

At one BJP rally, he bounced up the steps swapping a stetson for a turban.

"Friends, I'm here," he declared.