Hindustan Times (Patna) - Hindustan Times (Patna) - Live
BOLLYWOOD IS WOOING SOLDIERS
Financial help, promoting films among them, boosting morale… Bollywood is saying Jai Jawaan in its own way
On-screen heroes are going all out to do their bit for the real-life heroes. From giving financial aid to the next of kin of martyred soldiers to bringing a smile on the faces of the jawaans on duty, Bollywood has Indian Armed Forces on it’s mind.
After extending financial help to the families of soldiers killed in action in his personal capacity, actor Akshay Kumar recently proposed an online platform to help people donate directly to the bereaved families. “The best thing is people’s response... they feel so strongly about their country,” says Akshay, who recently met with the Union Home Secretary to take the idea forward.
Actor Kunal Kapoor, who co-founded crowd funding platform, Ketto, too, raised funds for families of the 19 soldiers killed in the terror attacks in Uri, J&K in September. “Like everyone else in the country, we, at team Ketto, were deeply affected by the cowardly Uri attacks and wanted to do something for the families of our martyred soldiers. We started a campaign called #supportsoldiers. In the last few months, a lot of corporates and individuals have come forward from all across the world, and helped us raise `44 lakh for the sustenance of these families. We will continue to keep this initiative active,” says Kapoor. Then there are those who recently visited the armed forces personnel. Actor Shah Rukh Khan celebrated Republic Day with soldiers in Delhi and danced with them to his hit songs, while promoting his film Raees that had just released. The actor shared a video online and posted, “Celebrating the Republic Day with army jawaans full Punjabi style.”
Actors doing films that have a connect with the armed forces, are also on a spree to meet soldiers. While some see this as publicity gimmick, the actors call it a way to thank the soldiers after realising what they go through. Actor Kangana Ranaut recently visited Border Security Force soldiers in Jammu and told them, “While working on the film, I came to know so much about the jawaans. It was my idea that we visit the BSF to promote the film. It’s been an experience of a lifetime... to be able to spend time with the real life heroes.”
Actors of the upcoming film Commando 2 —Vidyut Jammwal and Adah Sharma, along with producer Vipul Shah will travel to Varanasi to meet CRPF soldiers today.
A lot of corporates and individuals have come forward to donate funds for the families of the martyred soldiers KUNAL KAPOOR, ACTOR
“It is a morale booster for soldiers when you spend time with them and tell them that the work they do is loved and valued. Our film is about a commando, and Vidyut’s father was in the army, so it was only natural for us to do this. We will also perform the Ganga aarti in the evening with the soldiers,” says Shah.
Cast of the recently released war film The Ghazi Attack is also planning special screenings of the film for naval officers. Actor Rana Daggubati (below), who plays a Naval officer in the movie, has written a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee saying that stories of unsung war heroes should be acknowledged.
“As a civilian I did not know about these victorious tales and, like me, there are many others who do not know much about it. To us, it’s a way to acknowledge these heroes and make sure that we know more about them and their tales of victory,” he says.