Actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar Sunday announced he will contest the Lok Sabha election from Mumbai North-West as a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate.

`I got a call from (MNS chief) Raj (Thackeray), and I am very happy today,` Manjrekar told IANS. He said "this is the right time" to plunge into politics.

According to social networking site Twitter, the announcement was made by Thackeray.

`I have always been politically aware and I can't just sit and blame things around me. I think normal people should get into politics. To bring the change, you have to take initiative,` Manjrekar told IANS.

`This is the right time. But I promise to retire when I am 60 as I want more youths to come (into politics),` said the 55-year-old known for films like `Vaastav` and `Astitva`.