15 September,2026 06:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
A video of Parag Shah in beggar’s attire went viral on social media. Pics/X
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Parag Shah, one of the state's wealthiest legislators in Maharashtra, recently gave up his usual security, cars and expensive belongings to spend a day on the streets of Mumbai's Ghatkopar dressed as a beggar.
A video of the Ghatkopar East MLA in beggar's attire went viral on social media, surprising many viewers before details of the unusual exercise emerged.
Shah, a businessman and real estate developer, said the experience gave him a different perspective on life and helped him understand how people react to those seeking help on the streets.
Shah said he undertook the exercise on the advice of his Jain spiritual guru, Namramuni, during an ongoing period considered significant in Jain religious tradition, according to the PTI.
Following the advice, the MLA temporarily stayed away from his security personnel, vehicles and expensive possessions. He also underwent makeup to conceal his identity before heading out on the streets in the guise of a beggar, the news agency reported.
Shah spent several hours seeking alms, accepting food and money from people and sitting by the roadside.
Speaking about the experience, Shah said it showed him how differently people are treated depending on their circumstances.
"All the respect and honour, the people who line up to meet you - the same people, when I go to them, become taller than me. So, that is the reality of life," he said, as per the PTI.
The BJP MLA also said the experience highlighted the willingness of ordinary Mumbaikars to help others.
According to the PTI, Shah recalled receiving Rs 20 from one person, who told him to use the money to buy food.
He then approached a samosa seller and told him that he had no money. According to Shah, the hawker gave him a samosa free of charge and did so with a smile.
Shah said the interaction left a strong impression on him, particularly because the vendor himself was a poor street hawker.
He described the experience as an example of how people in Mumbai are often willing to help others despite their own limited means.
Shah did not stop at seeking alms. After removing his makeup and returning to his normal appearance, he revisited some of the places he had visited while disguised as a beggar.
He also spoke to some of the same people again, allowing him to reflect on their reactions without them initially knowing that the person they had encountered earlier was an MLA from the area.
Shah is known for his substantial wealth. In his affidavit filed for the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, he declared assets worth more than Rs 3,383 crore, making him the richest candidate in the state at the time, as per the PTI.
A businessman active in the real estate sector, Shah has also previously served as a corporator of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
His unusual experience of spending time on Mumbai's streets as a beggar has since attracted considerable attention on social media.
(with PTI inputs)
