Ruby Dhalla, the Indian-origin Canadian politician currently in the fray for the leadership of the Liberal Party and the position of Prime Minister, has had a career full of unexpected turns. While many know her as a former Member of Parliament and a political trailblaser, few may remember that she once had aspirations in Bollywood.
Bollywood Expereince
Before entering the realm of Canadian politics, Dhalla acted in a Hindi-language film called Kyon? Kis Liye?, released in 2003. It was a low-budget film, loosely based on the murder trial of Hamilton serial killer Sukhwinder Dhillon. The film was directed by Vinod Talwar. Dhalla played the role of a police officer, marking her brief foray into the entertainment industry.
However, this was only the start of controversy. Within a few months of winning her seat in Canada’s House of Commons in 2004, Dhalla tried to get the DVD released in stores cancelled. She claimed that the photoshoot images promoting the film had been manipulated. The filmmakers disagreed and producer Charanjit Sihra commented that Dhalla had always dreamed of being a Bollywood star and went along with the film.
Political Emergence and Crisis
Dhalla was first elected as Member of Parliament for Brampton—Springdale in 2004, becoming one of the first women of Indian origin to become a member of the Canadian Parliament. She won again in 2006 and 2008 but lost the seat in 2011.
Beyond politics, Dhalla also had an interesting personal and professional journey. She was the runner-up in the Miss India Canada pageant in 1993. As a model she worked with several prominent brands. She is also a hotelier.
The Road to Prime Ministership
At the age of 50, Dhalla is now seeking a new legacy by running for the leadership of the Liberal Party. If she succeeds, she will become Canada’s first woman of colour to hold the office of prime minister. However, stiff competition lies ahead of her. Persons of high-profile, including former finance minister Chrystia Freeland and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney are also contenders.
Read More: How Canada’s Voters Turned on Justin Trudeau
Whether her past in the Bollywood industry will come back to haunt her remains to be seen. However, Dhalla’s journey from acting to politics may witness her reinventing herself. As she takes this new challenge forward, Canadians will anxiously wait to witness her make history once more.
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