In these troubled times, celebs from B-town are helping out in whatever way they can.

The nation is going through a crisis, but celebrities from B-town are standing up and extending a helping hand. What started from providing valuable information on social media handles, has now reached a point where they are actually putting their life on the line to help out those in dire need. We take a look…

Ambulance driver

On the road for some time now, Kannada actor Arjun Gowda has turned an ambulance driver as he helps Covid patients in Bengaluru. Gowda’s last social media post was a black and white image of him taking out a body from his ambulance for last rites. Earlier he had shared, “I have taken all necessary precautions and also training... Am overwhelmed by your wishes, this means a lot to me. It’s my honour to serve the people of Karnataka. Jai Bhuvaneshwari.”

Makeshift hospitals

Director Raaj Shaandilyaa has turned his Mumbai office into a makeshift Covid facility, due to the shortage of beds in hospitals and the rising number of cases. He took to Twitter and wrote in Hindi, which translates into, “I am giving my office, Thinkink Picturez, for Corona patients ... in which beds can be provided for 12-15 patients...”

Actor Ajay Devgn, along with producer Anand Pandit, joined hands with BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) to set up a 20-bed Covid-19 ICU facility. This makeshift hospital has been set up at the Bharat Scouts and Guides Hall, located in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park area. Ajay Devgn donated Rs 1 crore for the project.

In collaboration

If John Abraham has handed over his social media accounts to NGOs, Bhumi Pednekar has tied up with relevant NGOs to start an online campaign to assist people. Having tested positive for Covid-19 in the first week of April, she calls herself ‘negative but super-positive about life’ after her recovery. Alia Bhatt too has collaborated with journalist Faye D’Souza to identify and amplify relevant information that can help Covid-19 patients. With her campaign #circleofhope, she is also sharing verified numbers on social media.

Let India breathe

Actor Sonu Sood set an example for many others during the first wave of Covid-19 in the country. And, Sonu has now launched a telegram channel to help people find oxygen, medicines and hospital beds, among other resources. Power couple Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna have provided financial aid to people in need and even helped with over 100 oxygen concentrators. Suniel Shetty has launched an initiative called ‘Mission Million Air’ to provide free oxygen concentrators to people.

Seeking global funds

Priyanka Chopra Jonas has collaborated with an NGO and initiated a fundraiser. “Unless everybody is safe, nobody is safe,” she wrote on social media. While sharing a link for donations, she posted a video message, where she said, “I have set up a fundraiser with GiveIndia, the largest organisation on the ground in India that is providing relief to those in need. Whatever you can spare truly makes a difference. Nearly 63 million people follow me here; if even 100,000 of you donate $10, that’s $1 million, and that’s huge! Your donation will go directly to Covid-care centres, isolation centres and oxygen generation plants; for medical equipment and vaccine support. Please, please donate. Nick and I already have and will continue to contribute. We need to beat this virus, and to do that it requires all of us. From the bottom of my heart, thank you! Donate now! Link in bio…”

For frontline workers

Shilpa Shetty Kundra has initiated a platform called Report Hunger – Khaana Chahiye Foundation through which she, along with her team, is providing cooked meals or groceries to the needy.

Salman Khan has revived his food trucks and is distributing food kits to the frontline workers, along the Worli-Juhu stretch of Mumbai. With food packets, including wholesome dishes like Upma or Poha or Pav Bhaji or Wada Pav, the actor managed to roll out the drive in less than 24 hours of when he first came up with the idea.

Farhan Akhtar too has come forward to raise awareness on the struggles of frontlines healthcare workers and donated 1,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to government hospitals. — TNS