Bollywood celebrates 'new dawn' as Joe Biden becomes US President, Kamala Harris VP

A long, dark night has ended for America, say several Bollywood stars, including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Richa Chadha, filmmakers Anubhav Sinha and Hansal Mehta who hailed US election results after Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were elected President and Vice President of US, respectively.

Biden triumphed over incumbent US President Donald Trump on Saturday in a divisive, bitter and closely-fought presidential election.

77-year-old Democrat, who became oldest man ever to be elected to White House, will be 46th president of United States, after securing a major victory in Pennsylvania, state where he was born put him over 270 electoral votes needed to win.

Chopra Jonas, who currently lives in Los Angeles with singer-husband Nick Jonas, said election accurately mirrored essence of a functioning democracy.

"America spoke in record breaking numbers and verdict is in... Every vote counts. I applaud everyone who voted in what was such a powerful display of how a democracy should function. It was amazing to witness this election in US," actor wrote on Instagram.

Senator Harris, 56, who is of Indian origin, became first ever woman vice president-elect of United States. She would also be country's first Indian-origin, first Black and first African American vice president of country.

Chopra Jonas hailed Harris' victory as a testimony that dreams do come true.

"Congrats to President Elect @joebiden and Vice President elect @kamalaharris, first woman VP! Dream Big girls! Anything can happen!! #DemocracyRocks. Congratulations America," she added.

Sinha said Biden's win can have a ripple effect across world and hoped it spreads "love".

"America 'You can brea' w. Let everyone brea. Congratulations America!!! Go spread love and change people. You have a lot of people to change," he tweeted.

Chadha said US election results were only glimmer of hope for 2020, a year marred by coronavirus pandemic.

"Biden, Harris and a small dollop of hope! 2020 ends better than it started," "Fukrey" star wrote.

Mehta recalled filming his Kangana Ranaut starrer "Simran" when Trump was elected as president and said he could feel a "pall of gloom on set, some cried, some were just silent".

"I remember those faces and can imagine smiles on m tonight. A long, dark night has ended," "Scam 1992" director said.

Actor Nimrat Kaur said election result was a victory of might of a common man.

"Congratulations on a new dawn... and might of common man who willed it. #PresidentBiden," she said.

Ritesh Batra, Kaur's " Lunchbox" director, called it a "Happy @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris Day." Invoking Aamir Khan's 1992 hit sports drama "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar", actor Riteish Deshmukh wrote, "'Joe' ajeeta Wohi Sikandar #USAelection2020." Actor Ali Fazal shared a picture of Biden and Harris celebrating post ir win and wrote this was a "truly amazing" day for America.

"This feels like people's victory. You can tell. #FireTrump #BidenHarris2020," "Mirzapur" star said.

Actor Aahana Kumra said Biden and Harris have created history with ir win, which is also " victory of democracy".

"And out goes 'democrazy!' Well done America," she added.

Biden and Harris would be sworn in as President and Vice President of US on January 20, 2021. PTI JUR RDS RDS