The effects of the Coronavirus outbreak has been debilitating on our economy. In these troubling times, our Bollywood has proved that it is Bada Dilwala at the end of the day, by helping out in one way or the other – be it funds, medical supplies or facilitating transport for the stranded.
So what if the film shooting has stopped in lockdown? These celebs have shifted the action onto the streets and proven they ain’t just reel-life heroes but real-life heroes!
Show me the Money
Bollywood has been very enthusiastic in their support and donation to the PM Cares Fund (Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund) to help alleviate the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. In fact, Akshay Kumar donated a whopping sum of 25 crores!
Celebs like Vicky Kaushal, Sara Ali Khan, Rajkummar Rao, Badshah, Varun Dhawan, Shilpa Shetty, Katrina Kaif, Kartik Aryan, Nana Patekar, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and many more too have donated to the cause. Salman Khan’s Being Human Foundation has also come forward to help 25,000 daily wage workers financially.
Migrant Workers Ka Messiah
Our dear Sonu Sood may play the villain convincingly onscreen but in real-life he has been nothing short of a Messiah for the poor, stranded migrant workers! Under his ‘Ghar Bhejo’ campaign, he has been working tirelessly to arrange buses and facilitate transport for these workers and has helped over 12,000 migrants reach their home!
Food For Thought
Bollywood celebs stepped in to make sure the poor and underprivileged didn’t go hungry during the pandemic! Richa Chaddha donated 600 kg ration to her local Gurudwara, while Sanjay Dutt sponsored meals for 1,000 families. Our Bhaijaan, Salman Khan helped ensure 1,25,000 families got their food rations through the “Anna Daan” challenge! He also arranged for 5,000 Eidi kits through his Being Haangryy food trucks to make Eid special for the needy.
Safe and Saaf
To help those at the front-line of the battle against this deadly pandemic, that is healthcare workers, Police Force and other essential service providers, Bollywood has been very forthcoming in handing out PPE kits. Amitabh Bachchan sent across 20,000 PPE kits at various locations, Shah Rukh provided around 25,000 PPE kits. Sonu Sood, Farhan Akhtar, Vidya Balan and Sonakshi Sinha also pitched in to raise these crucial personal protective equipment to keep health care workers safe.
A Total Khiladi in real life, Akshay Kumar distributed 1000 wrist bands among the Mumbai Police to help them in an early and timely detection of the Coronavirus symptoms. While Salman Khan recently introduced hand sanitizers under his personal care brand FRSH to help in the Covid-19 fight.
Shelter for the Helter Skelter
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan graciously lent their 4-storey office space located in Khar West, to help extend the quarantine space for accommodating the infected people. Following their example, Sonu Sood too offered to help house paramedics and doctors in his family-owned Shakti Sagar Hotel in Juhu!
Charity Concert
Filmmakers Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar came up with the digital charity concert, “I for India” to help raise funds for the India COVID Response Fund. It featured around 85 Indian as well as global stars like Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra, Will Smith, Shah Rukh and many others, and managed to raise over Rs 52 crore!
All in all, we can say that Bollywood is being Jolly Good at doing its bit in helping out the needy during this trying Covid-19 phase.