Film personalities rubbed shoulders with political figures at a reception in this seaside town Tuesday for those who joined the re-enactment of Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi march.

"Coming here (Dandi) was a wish fulfilment for me," said film director Ashutosh Gowarikar.

"I always believed in Gandhiji's ideals. I tried to project the same ideals in my films 'Lagaan' and 'Swades'," he said.

Many film personalities said they were inspired by Gandhi's march of 1930 to protest the oppressive salt laws of India's then British rulers.

Congress party president Sonia Gandhi joined Gandhiji's great grandson Tushar Gandhi and other marchers who recreated the Mahatma's historic trek on its 75th anniversary.

Rohini Hattangadi, who played the role of Mahatma Gandhi's wife Kasturba in Richard Attenborough's Oscar-winner "Gandhi", said: "The Dandi march was not only about salt. It was about unity, about environment, about water conservation.

"The youth should be more sensitive to such issues," she said.

Raza Murad, a popular actor associated with the Congress party, told crowds: "Gandhiji was a hundred percent Hindu and zero percent communal. Gandhiji showed that those who know Hinduism can never take the wrong path."

Nafisa Ali, a former film actor and celebrity associated with the Congress, too was present. "Gandhiji's message is very relevant today, especially for the youth. We must go back to the father of the nation in our search for answers," she said.

"Gandhiji worked tirelessly for the brotherhood of Hindus and Muslims. When Gujarat was hit by communal violence (in 2002), I was in anguish and remembered his work."