By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, April 24 (IANS): Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has never been afraid to call a spade a spade...or a goon a goon. Fiercely opposed to fundamentalist forces, he recently signed a petition pleading voters to desist from voting for Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

He said: "I am not asking voters to not vote for Narendra Modi. I am asking them to vote against communal, divisive forces. God save this country if such forces come into power."

The financial and entertainment capital went into polling Thursday. The voting for the 16th Lok Sabha elections will end May 12 and results will be announced May 16.

Hansal, who recently won National Award for best director for "Shahid", has pitched his tent with the Aam Aadmi Party.

"I think (AAP leader) Arvind Kejriwal deserves a chance. People, who are doubting his ability to run the country, are looking only at his short-term performance. Arvind has much larger plans," he said.