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Sonu Sood’s birthday plans: Organising medical camps for around 50,000 people
Looking forward to a fizzy drink and some fast food with the movie as soon as cinema halls reopen in unlock 3.0? Hold on. You’ll have to ditch the soft drink and fries, and instead opt for healthy stuff when you get back to the theatres now!
Thanks to the pandemic, managements of cinemas have not only decided to make food ordering contactless, but also put immunity-boosting food on their menus, ranging from the fancy Turmeric Latte to the traditional kadha and rasam. “We’ve introduced immunity boosters such as Hot Turmeric Pepper Latte, and lots of soups and juices. We will also serve Pepper Rasam and energy bars,” says Dinesh Hariharan of INOX Leisure.
Some have gone a step ahead, the natural way. “We
Sonu Sood, who has been working tirelessly for the welfare of migrant labourers over the last three months, isn’t going to take a day off on his birthday, either. On his special day, the actor has planned to organise medical camps across the country which, he expects, around 50,000 people to attend.
“I have been planning this for quite some time, and I’ve been speaking to a lot of doctors in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Punjab and Orissa. But now, floods have hit Assam and Bihar, so we are figuring out how to hold them there. They can’t be regular camps where thousands of people used to come. It will be free of cost,” reveals the actor, who turns 47 today.
When asked why it won’t be like normal camps, Sood says it’s because of Covid-19 guidelines. “We have been facing challenges, as there has to be social distancing. If we announce just like that, 50006000 people will come together, we can’t have that. We are getting ready for 40-50,000 people across India. We have
ANSHUMAN JHA ACTOR
SONU SOOD
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understand that patrons will be looking at health-conscious options when they visit the cinemas, especially during this period. So we have introduced items such as coconut water on our menu,” says Devang Sampat, from Cinepolis India.
But healthy doesn’t mean you won’t be spoilt for choice. Kunal Sawhney, from Carnival Cinemas, says, “We have included kadha, Turmeric Latte, Tulsi tea and many other varieties of immunity-boosting teas in the drinks menu. Spinach, broccoli, fresh citrus fruit platter, yoghurt, and nuts are also being included in the food menu. In the combos that will be on offer, we will add at least one healthy food item from these dishes.”
Interestingly, film buffs, who are looking forward to finally return to cinema halls for the big-screen experience, say that this is the need of the been in touch with gram panchayats and mukhiyas, so that there is a time these people can come and get their check-ups done,” he says.
Given that he’ll be busy all day, quintessential celebrations may take a step back this time around. During the past three months, when he has been busy with welfare work, has the actor’s family ever complained that he doesn’t spend time with them?
“They know and understand that I am trying to help people,” says Sood, adding, “I asked my son, ‘Beta, are you not happy that I’m not spending time with you?’ He said ‘nahi daddy, logon ko help karna zaroori hai’. That gives you more power, that you are doing something right. I feel sorry about it, but at least I’m able to bring some change in the lives of these people.” hour. “It would be a very different feeling, for sure, to get back to the theatres after more than four months, and the scare of the virus surely demands that cinema hall menus include such healthy options than just serving junk food that plays havoc with our system,” says Mohit Saraf from Faridabad. And while the movie he'll watch is yet to be decided, Saraf has his beverage choices lined up. “From the immunity-boosting menu, I would love to taste the Turmeric Latte,” he adds.
Actor Deepika Padukone was trending on social media after a former RAW official, NK Sood, alleged she took ₹5 crore from a man with Pakistani ties, to participate in the anti-caa protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, reported Bollywood Life. She remained mum on the allegations. Meanwhile, Team Kangana Ranaut insinuated Padukone had made mental health a business, tweeting “...Bollywood’s ‘repeat after me’ gang, depression ka dhanda chalane wale should be remanded...”. and tagging her.