He spoke as if he was accepting an award. Bollywood star and MP Govinda Wednesday made his debut speech in the Lok Sabha and like any self-respecting actor crammed into it some emotion, some drama and some humour as well.

Govinda Ahuja, MP from northern Mumbai, made the most of the opportunity to thank everyone - right from his parents, teachers, friends and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for giving him the chance to be in parliament.

However, everyone in the house, including Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, were agreed that he also made his point to ask for central government aid to develop his constituency most effectively.

Effortlessly slipping from political promises to emotional appeal, Govinda said: "I have lived my life in a poor family. I served the entertainment industry for 20 years and now I have been given a chance to serve the people."

His colleagues in the Congress thumped their desks in approval.

Pointing out that more than a million people in Mumbai lived in slums, the star sought more funds for the development of the area and drew the attention of Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to lack of basic amenities in his constituency.

The star of hits like "Coolie No 1" said no government should forget his city's contribution to the country's economic growth.

However, even the opposition's absence from the house did not mean that the actor was allowed to finish without some heckling.

When Tarit Baran Topdar of Communist Party of India-Marxist, who was upset with speaker's decision not to allow him a long speech, interrupted him, Govinda turned on his screen charm: "Are... aap to poora saal bolte hein, meri pahali baar hai (You have been talking for the entire year, mine is the first time).

Though Chatterjee stopped him from reacting to the running commentaries, he did not leave any remarks unanswered.

He also did not miss the chance to shower praises on Sonia Gandhi. "She works silently. She has intervened when slum people were in trouble," he said referring to Gandhi's intervention to stop the eviction of slum dwellers earlier this year.

Complimenting the flamboyant actor, dressed in a spotless all-white attire, the speaker said: "I am sure your area will benefit because of your intervention."

Outside parliament, Govinda justified his one-year-long wait to make his debut address.

"I had told Sonia Gandhi that I would not be very active in the first year. Now I will be regular in parliament," Govinda told.

He denied that his regular appearance in parliament during last week was because of Gandhi's directive to all MPs to attend parliamentary proceedings.

"I had some work to complete," he said, adding that he would continue to work in the film industry.

"I will be doing two films a year. My latest film 'Sukh' will be released soon," the star said, adding that he would step up his activities for the welfare of the people in his constituency.