COVID-19: How celebrities are doing their bit in this crisis

Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn. Pictures Courtesy/Yogen Shah

Last year in March, when the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic caused a lockdown, there was a state of anxiety as to when things will return to normal. We are now hit by the second wave of the pandemic and the situation is far more traumatic than it was in 2020. Amid such dire times, there are a lot of celebrities who have come out to help the people.

Here are some actors from the entertainment industry that are doing their bit to extend help to the nation:

Salman Khan

Khan has always been known for his philanthropic work and his aid to people during the lockdown has been no less. Salman Khan has been personally overseeing the distribution of meals to the frontline workers. The superstar's Being Hangryy trucks have been providing food kits since the junta curfew was announced in the state. Khan visited the special kitchen set up at a Bandra restaurant where the food is prepared and packed. He was keen to check the quality and freshness, and ensure the smooth functioning of the distribution chain.

Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna

Last year, the Pad Man star donated Rs 25 crore to the PM Care Fund, and this year, he has been lauded by fans again. The actor donated Rs 1 crore to Gautam Gambhir's foundation to help the Coronavirus-hit with food, medicines and oxygen supplies. The cricketer-turned-politician shared the news on social media and wrote, "Every help in this gloom comes as a ray of hope. Thanks a lot." In response, the superstar posted, "These are really tough times. I'm glad I could help. Wish we all get out of this crisis soon. Stay safe." The Khiladi's fans lauded his contribution and said that they were proud of him.

Moreover, he and his wife Twinkle Khanna announced that they were donating 100 oxygen concentrators in an effort to contribute to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. In a separate tweet, Twinkle wrote: "I think for the last few weeks with members of my own family ill I have been in a bit of a hole. But I couldn't stay there for long. I implore all of you in your own way to do whatever you can so we can look back at this bleak moment and at least say it took the worst but it brought out the best in all of us. #ILookForSilverLinings."

Ajay Devgn

Devgn, who's has a larger-than-life persona on the celluloid, has turned into a real-life hero too. The actor has joined hands with BMC and Hinduja Hospital to set up ICU (Intensive Care Units). As BMC commissioners, corporators, and others frontline workers are working tirelessly on ground zero, round the clock to monitor the emergency services, Devgn, too, is working in close tandem by doing his bit.

Ayushmann Khurrana and Tahira Kashyap

Ayushmann Khurrana and his wife Tahira Kashyap also came forward to contribute to the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund to help aid people crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Ayushmann and Tahira uploaded a note on their social media thanking each and every Indian who have constantly inspired the couple to contribute more towards helping people ravaged by the crisis. They said in the joint statement, "We have been in the eye of the storm since last year. This pandemic has broken our hearts, made us endure pain and suffering like never before, showed us how solidarity with one another can make us handle this humanitarian crisis. Today, again, this pandemic asks us to show fortitude, resilience, and mutual support."

Sonu Sood

Sonu Sood has been helping the migrants reach their homes since the beginning of the lockdown last year. He still continues to help as many people as he can and keeps tweeting about how many oxygen cylinders and beds he and his team could arrange every day. Recently, Sood airlifted a 25-year-old critically ill Covid patient in an air ambulance from Nagpur to Hyderabad for treatment. The patient Bharti is the daughter of a retired railway officer, and she has reportedly lost almost 85 to 90 per cent of her lungs owing to Covid-19. Sonu initially helped in shifting her to a private hospital in Nagpur. Doctors then suggested she needed a lung transplant.

The actor arranged for the patient to be airlifted to Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad, for a treatment called ECMO, in which blood is artificially pumped into the body to take pressure away from the lungs.

Gurmeet Chaudhary

Paltan actor Gurmeet Chaudhary has also come out and decided to help people to the best of his capabilities. He announced on his social media recently that he will be opening hospitals in Patna and Lucknow to help with the COVID outbreak in the country. In his post, the actor says that the hospitals will have "ultra modern" facilities and "1000 beds".

He will open more hospitals in other cities subsequently. "I have decided I will be opening ultra modern 1000 bed hospital in Patna and Lucknow for the common man. Followed by other cities. Need your blessings and Support. Jai Hind. Details will be shared soon. #CovidIndia #CovidHelp," he wrote.

The actor has been extending help to COVID patients across the country and supporting them with their plasma and oxygen needs as well as organising beds. He and his wife, actress Debina Bonnerjee, had tested positive for Covid last year and have also donated plasma recently. They have been urging their fans also to donate plasma.

Sushmita Sen

The actress shared some helpful yet heartbreaking information on her Twitter account about oxygen cylinders. She had them but didn't have the means to transport them from Mumbai to Delhi and asked fans for guidance, here's her tweet:

Bhumi Pednekar

Pednekar recently shared a reel on her Instagram account and asked all the people of Delhi to show some 'Dil' and donate their Plasma. Have a look right here:

Sidharth Malhotra

Malhotra began sharing the helpline numbers of different states for COVID-19 resources, right from Rajasthan to Madhya Pradesh.

It's also to be mentioned that actor and politician Kirron Kher came out to support the COVID-19 patients as well. She recently tweeted that she has donated Rs 1 crore from Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh for the immediate purchase of ventilators for Covid-19 patients.