The 49-year-old will run for the socialist Samajwadi Party in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state, the Press Trust of India news agency quoted party leader Amar Singh saying.

Uttar Pradesh is regarded as politically crucial as it is India's most populous state and sends 80 MPs to the 545-member national parliament.

Dutt remains one of Bollywood's most popular and bankable stars despite his criminal conviction.

The actor, who was formerly a heavy drug user, was found guilty in 2007 of possessing illegal weapons that he bought from men accused of plotting the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, which killed more than 250 people.

He was sentenced to six years in jail, but was granted bail pending an appeal.

Dutt's family has a long association with politics and his father, Sunil, spent almost two decades in parliament as a Congress MP and served as federal sports minister before his death in 2005.

Dutt's sister Priya was elected as Congress MP for their father's constituency in Mumbai, where India's prolific film industry is based.

Convicted criminals are not barred from standing for office in India.

A study by an Indian watchdog found that nearly a quarter of the 542 people elected to the federal parliament in 2004 had faced criminal charges, including murder and rape. -- AFP