Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra bats for e-voting

MUMBAI: Bollywood Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who will not be able to vote for the April 24 Lok Sabha elections due to his work commitments, says e-voting should be brought in place to facilitate people.

As Mehra would be flying to the USA to attend an award ceremony, he would not be in Mumbai to vote for the general elections. He would also be part of two sessions at the IIFA awards.

"I am a great believer of e-voting. Life carries on... one has to travel for work. Like our Indian cricket team is traveling due to IPL matches, there are not only cricketers, but several officials and other staff from India who won't be able to vote.

"There is a need for e-voting so that one can go to the nearest Indian consulate (whenever they travel abroad) and vote," Mehra told PTI.

"As people who are not in the country due to official or personal work, should get a chance to vote and e-voting is the best option," he said.

Mehra's last directorial venture 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' has got ten nominations at the upcoming International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards. The Farhan Akhtar-starrer has already been announced the winner in nine technical categories.

The 15th IIFA awards will be held from April 23 to 26 in Tampa Bay, US.

Though Mehra won't be here to vote he hopes that everyone would vote especially the youth.

"I hope to see the youth in large numbers to vote. I am looking for a change this election," he said.

"The whole country is divided. I think we use caste and religion in a wrong way. It is unfortunate. I feel casteism need to be deleted," he added.