Patna: Bhojpur-born South Indian film actor Pankaj Kesari on Monday campaigned in support of NDA candidate and sitting MLA Sanjeev Chaurasia in Patna’s Digha constituency. Emphasising his emotional connection with the city, Kesari said his early theatre days began in Patna and described the area as “a place that shaped my artistic journey”.
Kesari praised the NDA government for what he called a dramatic transformation of Bihar over the past two decades. “There was a time when industrialists were extorted and investors feared stepping into Bihar. Today, the state has wide roads, six-lane highways and a Marine Drive. The climate for investment and filmmaking is now favourable,” he said.
He highlighted the state’s new film policy, crediting it for positioning Bihar as a new hub for cinema production. The policy, he said, offers subsidies for film shoots, reducing production costs and attracting filmmakers who once avoided the region. “Studios, hotels and local infrastructure have improved. Shooting in Bihar is now convenient and cost-effective,” Kesari noted.
The actor also lauded improvements in law and order, citing women’s safety as a sign of change. “At 1 or 2am, girls are seen making reels on Marine Drive — that shows how safe Bihar has become. Families can step out at night without fear,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kesari expressed optimism about the proposed film city project, asserting that an NDA victory would fast-track its development. “A film city will not only boost the creative economy but also generate jobs for Bihar’s youth,” he said.
Praising the ‘double-engine government’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Kesari said the partnership had accelerated development in infrastructure, education and industry. “Bihar has moved from darkness to light. If the NDA returns, the state will soon attract IT and manufacturing sectors too,” he added.
The actor concluded by saying that under the NDA, Bihar had ended the “politics of fear” and replaced it with “a politics of progress and confidence.” He dismissed Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav’s promises, claiming that voters “still remember the old days of misrule”.
