Jackie Shroff recently made headlines when it was reported that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had chosen him along with Arjun Rampal as a star campaigner for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. It was also reported that he was likely to head to Delhi to meet the party’s national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. He is officially denying these developments now.

He says, “I have been receiving hundreds of calls since the past few days about this. I would like to clarify that I haven’t been approached by any political party nor do I have any political ambitions.”

The actor says that he has had no political leanings in his 30-year old film career nor has he ever articulated his views on political development. However, political parties continue to perceive him as ideal star material t for political rallies, “I’ve been approached several times, but I had to refuse them all with a polite thank-you. They should know that I am simply not cut out for politics nor am I educated in political science. I don’t think I am competent enough to lead the masses ideologically in a certain direction,” he says.

He feels more comfortable promoting a social initiative, “More than politics, I would be ever-willing to spearhead a social cause, as long as it is done with genuine intentions. I have worked for the welfare of orphans, destitute children, thalassemia patients and children of sex workers in the past and I would be happy to take my social interests further. But politics is definitely not my cup of tea,” he says.

That reminds him of the only other exception when he chose to associate with a political party, the Shiv Sena several years ago, due to his proximity with one of the party’s erstwhile leaders, the late Bindumadhav Thackeray, son of late Balasaheb Thackeray, “Bindu baba was a close friend, he was very close to me and that was an exception to the rule but that was a chapter in the past. I would like to use my stature only for to reach out to the socially deprived,” he says.