Akshay Kumar honours India’s innovators

Actors Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and the director of their next film Pad Man, R Balki, recently attended an event — The Innovation Conclave in Mumbai — where they met 16 innovators from across the country. The three also showcased a song about innovation from the film. Called Saale Sapne, the number is sung by Mohit Chauhan, composed by Amit Trivedi and written by Kausar Munir.

Akshay gifted each of the innovators ₹5 lakh for their contributions to the country. He said, “I am very proud to be standing here with them. I might be a reel hero, but they are the real heroes. I hope their stories reach far and wide, as they will inspire a lot of people in our country.” Saying he was inspired by the innovators, Akshay also expressed his desire to make a special phone that detects any health problems a may person have when they take a selfie with it. He said he thought of this innovation after he lost his father to cancer, which wasn’t detected until it had reached the third stage. Pad Man is inspired by the life of entrepreneur and inventor Arunachalam Muruganantham, who invented the low-cost sanitary pad making machine and revolutionised cost effective women’s hygiene in India. Sonam Kapoor, who was present at the event, expressed her shock at the fact that only 12% of women in India have access to sanitary napkins and tampons. Akshay pleaded with the government to raise awareness about sanitary ads.

Sonam Kapoor and Akshay Kumar at The Innovation Conclave

A still from Pad Man