New Moon for the heartthrob Moon Moon Sen as she embarks on another phase of her life

Actress Moon Moon Sen embarks on another phase of her life at 66 — as a parliamentarian — having wrested the Bankura seat from CPI(M) veteran Basudeb Acharia, who suffered his first defeat in the constituency since 1980.

She attributed the victory to the groundswell of support for Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

"Many told me that my journey to Delhi from Bankura would be very tough as my opponent is a nine-time CPI(M) MP. I wasn't bothered... because I knew Mamata Banerjee was with me," she told ET.

Sen's win is historic, said Arup Chakraborty, Trinamool Congress leader in Bankura, which is part of Jangalmahal, once a Maoist stronghold. She was able to reach out to people as the daughter of legendary actress Suchitra Sen but more so as wife of Bharat Dev Varma, who belongs to the royal family of Tripura.

Bankura is a largely rural constituency and four of the seven assembly constituencies that it comprises are reserved for scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) candidates.

"My husband belongs to the ST and I now also belong to the tribe because of my marriage. In that sense, I belong to the same community you belong to," Sen would tell people at rallies in the Ranibandh and Raipur assembly segments, both reserved for ST candidates.

On the other hand, her association with the world of entertainment also held appeal for some.

"We have not seen Suchitra Sen, but her daughter is with us and we consider ourselves fortunate," said Rabi Santra, who works at a hotel in Bankura.

Sen got married to Varma in 1978, a year after the CPI(M)-led Left Front government came to power in West Bengal. It would stay for 34 years until the Banerjee-led TMC ousted it in 2011.

Like all newly elected MPs, Sen pledged to work hard for the constituency.

"People of Bankura have given me their love and affection. I will work for them and raise their voices in parliament. I will seek guidance from Mamata Banerjee after the oath-taking ceremony. I will be back in Bankura after attending the Parliament," Sen said.