Hans Raj Hans: I don’t want to be the typical so-called politician; I want to be a people’s person

Education and social security are the two areas singer-turned-politician Hans Raj Hans has his focus on. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from North West Delhi, for this Lok Sabha Elections is clear that he “won’t hurry into things”, but would first observe and work on areas that require development.

“I am an artist first, a politician later… artist aur doosre logon mein farak toh hona chahiye na, toh main koshish karunga achha kaam karoon hum jeet gaye toh,” he says.

Read: Hans Raj Hans denies AAP’s conversion claim, plans legal action

Happy with the way people have responded to him contesting elections, Hans shares that voters are showering him with love. “Main hairaan hoon, log apne aap lage hue hain, kaam kar rahe hain, khush hain. Over the years, the love and respect I have earned as an artist, is helping me… I was born in a village, have walked miles, so I understand the problems people face. There is a book (Rags To Ragas.... And Beyond) on my life, and [actor] Dilip Kumar has written the preface. Meri life ke bare mein university mein bhi padhaya gaya hain toh sirf entertainment nahi, ek academic background bhi ban gaya hain. And then I started to sing sufi music. So, people with different backgrounds feel that they can relate with me,” he sounds content, though tired. 

Talking And why not? He has been campaigning throughout the day. He shares how since his candidature has been announced, his phone has not stopped ringing. But clearly the Padma Shri awardee is not complaining. “Logon ko lagta hain ki jis bande ne abhi tak zindegi mein kabhi jhoota sur nahin lagaya, toh aagey kyun lagaye ga,” he says, explaining people’s faith in him.

Being a singer, Hans’ is making sure that his political campaigns exude a bit of his musician personality as well, so whenever he is asked to sing a song or two while campaigning, he happily obliges. “I don’t mind singing when some people ask me to; whether it is chal kudiye ni chal ho taiyar, dil modi modi ho gaya, ab ki bar modi sarkar or may be something spontaneous, people enjoy it,” he smiles, adding that he is doing it with all heart.

Now that his stint as a politician requires him to devote a lot of time, will singing take a back seat? “See, I have left commercial singing much before. There are a few events that I usually participate like Jashn-e-Rekhta, Jahan-e-Khusrau… Now, I just want to serve the people. I want to be available whenever they want me to…,” he adds.  

Having said that, Hans is sure he doesn’t want to be like any other politician. “Dimag se nahin dil se kaam karna chata hoon. Aur saare politician makkar nahin hote, main unme se hona chata hoon jo kaam kare, logon ki sune. I don’t want to be that typical so-called politician; I want to be a people’s person,” asserts Hans, who is happy with the support he has been getting from his “industry colleagues and relatives, especially singers Daler Mehndi and Sapna Choudhary.”

Author tweets @Shreya_MJ

Follow @htshowbiz for more