Bengali film actress Koel Mallick is set to return to the Rajya Sabha, this time as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from West Bengal. The BJP has nominated the popular actress for the October 16 Rajya Sabha bypoll to the seat she had earlier vacated.
Koel recently joined the BJP and subsequently filed her nomination in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya. She had earlier served as a Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP but resigned from the Upper House on July 16, 2026.
Koel’s Odisha Film Connection
Koel Mallick also has a connection with the Odia film industry. She made her Ollywood debut in 2005 with Premi Number One, directed by Debu Pattnaik, in which she acted opposite Anubhav Mohanty.
She returned to Odia cinema in 2007 with Mahanayak, directed by Debu Pattnaik and Sudhanshu Sahu. Her appearances in these films made her a familiar face among Odia movie audiences.
From Cinema to Politics
Koel, daughter of veteran Bengali actor Ranjit Mallick, began her acting career in 2003 and went on to establish herself as one of the prominent faces of Bengali cinema. She featured in several successful films, particularly during the 2003–2010 period.
Her political journey began with her nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the Trinamool Congress earlier this year. She took oath as an MP in April but resigned a few months later.
Now, with the BJP fielding her from West Bengal, Koel is poised for a return to the Upper House. Her political shift, along with her association with Odia cinema, has generated considerable interest in Odisha as well.