From Priyanka Chopra Jonas to Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli -- these celebrities are helping India fight against COVID-19
While actor Sonu Sood has turned out to be a messiah for many during the pandemic, many other Bollywood celebrities have become real-life heroes by providing financial assistance.
The second wave of Covid-19 has proved to be deadlier than the first one, and has left citizens struggling for survival.
While the spike in the number of Covid cases is a cause of concern, lack of beds, oxygen cylinders, and medicines is leading to loss of lives, and has become a major cause of worry.
At a time when our healthcare systems and frontline workers are facing extreme challenges, Bollywood celebrities have come forward to help people in their fight against the disease, and have proved to be real-life heroes.
Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood has yet again emerged as an icon of hope and has been at the forefront and directly helping people since the pandemic struck India last year. While he helped migrant workers by providing food and transport facilities during the first wave of the pandemic, this time, Sonu and his team worked the entire night to provide oxygen for a Bengaluru hospital and managed to save 22 Covid-19 positive patients.
Actor, producer, and humanitarian Sonu Sood
Apart from this, Sood has launched a 'COVID force' on Telegram to arrange resources to those in need. He has also arranged oxygen plants from France and other nations to be installed at various places in India.
Talking about the same, he said,
“We have seen a lot of people suffering because of the unavailability of oxygen cylinders. We have got it now, and are already giving it to people. However, these oxygen plants will not only supply to hospitals but will also fill oxygen cylinders, which will solve a major problem.”
Meanwhile, Bollywood actors Bhumi Pednekar, Twinkle Khanna, Sushmita Sen, and many others have taken to social media, amplifying SOS messages and reaching out to those in need of assistance. A few other celebrities have also stepped up their effort by providing financial assistance.
YS Weekender has come up with a list of stars who have contributed to this noble cause.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma
Celebrity couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma recently initiated a campaign called #InThisTogether in collaboration with Ketto to raise funds for Covid-19.
The couple started the initiative by donating Rs 2 crore. Anushka said, “As our country battles the second wave of Covid-19, and our healthcare systems are facing extreme challenges, it breaks my heart to see our people suffering. So, Virat and I have initiated a campaign #InThisTogether, with Ketto, to raise funds for Covid-19 relief. We shall all overcome this crisis together. Please step forward to support India and Indians. Your contribution will help in saving lives during this critical time.”
Within seven days, the campaign has managed to surpass its initial target of Rs 7 crore, collecting a total of Rs 11 crore as of May 13, 2021.
Image Credit: Viral Bhayani's Instagram
According to the description on the fundraiser site, the funds from this campaign will go to ACT Grants, which is focused on tackling the immediate shortage of oxygen supply on a war footing.
Following this, Anushka tweeted an update, “Virat & I are thankful to MPL Sports Foundation for strengthening our efforts to help India fight the pandemic. Your donation of Rs 5 crore empowers us to keep going and has allowed us to increase our goal to Rs 11 crore.”
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas
Bollywood and Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra has been actively using her social media to share Covid-19 resources since the second wave began. She has set up a fundraiser along with her husband Nick Jonas in association with GiveIndia - an online donation platform.
So far, they have raised $1 million, which is equivalent to Rs 7.36 crore. The couple has further raised their fundraising target to $3 million in order to provide support.
The actor took to Instagram to thank everyone who has contributed to the cause. She added that even in these darkest days of history, humanity has triumphed and the duo is humbled with the support they are receiving from all over the world.
“All the money raised is already being deployed across the country in the form of oxygen concentrators, vaccine support, and so much more,” she added.
Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna
The couple recently announced that they have donated 100 oxygen concentrators to a non-profit organisation called Daivik Foundation.
Twinkle tweeted saying” "A big shout out to all of you who joined in donating toward this good cause by Daivik Foundation. Here are the oxygen concentrators all ready to ship,"
Earlier, Akshay Kumar had reportedly donated Rs 1 Crore to Gautam Gambhir’s Delhi-based NGO for Covid relief.
During the first wave, Akshay had also pledged to donate another Rs 25 crore.
Ajay Devgn
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and a few of his colleagues have joined hands with Hinduja Hospital to set up an emergency facility at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
According to media reports, BMC has converted a hall at Shivaji Park into a 20-bed Covid-19 facility equipped with ventilators and oxygen support.
Ajay Devgn
Devgn, Anand Pandit, Boney Kapoor, Luv Ranjan, Sameer Nair, and many others have also joined forces to contribute over Rs 1 crore to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) “Smiley Account”.
Salman Khan
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, known for his humanitarian work, is donating Rs 1,500 each to 25,000 workers in the film industry, including makeup artists, technicians, stuntmen, and spot boys.
Rohit Shetty
Filmmaker Rohit Shetty recently contributed a generous amount to a COVID-19 care facility. Politician Manjinder Singh Sirsa took to Twitter to thank Shetty for his contribution and wrote, “He might be a Khatron ka Khiladi on screen; but behind the scene, he is a compassionate one who cares for humanity. Thanking Rohit Shetty for donating a significant amount to our COVID Care Facility, may this service come back as multiple BLESSINGS Rohit Ji"
Edited by Megha Reddy