Stay strong, Manchester, says Bollywood after blast

Following the news of a bomb blast in Manchester Arena, UK, after an Ariana Grande concert on Monday night, Bollywood reacted with messages of solidarity. The blast, a case of suicide bombing, as per reports, took place just minutes after the concert ended, killing at least 22 people and injuring 60 (at the time of going to press). American singer Taylor Swift was among the first to write: “My thoughts, prayers and tears for all those affected by the Manchester tragedy tonight.” Canadian singer Justin Bieber tweeted: “#Prayformanchester”. Ariana Grande herself wrote: “broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don’t have words.” Prayers on Twitter went out from Bollywood. “Shocked and shaken to hear about the #Manchester bomb. Any one of us could have been at that concert. My prayers are with everyone there,” posted singer Siddharth Mahadevan, who sang Zinda for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. “#Manchester No words. Strength and prayers for the families of the murdered,” wrote actor Siddharth, who is popular in several south Indian film industries and acted in Aamir Khan’s Rang De Basanti. Actor Hansika Motwani tweeted: “#Manchester stay strong”. And filmmaker Onir lamented: “IT JUST DOES NOT SEEM TO STOP :( : 19 Dead In Suspected Terror Attack.”

Extremely sad to start days when innocent lives are lost... Strength to the families of the Manchester victims SHAH RUKH KHAN, ACTOR I’m numb with shock. Can’t make sense of what’s happening in the world. Where is all this hate coming from? Prayers for victims SHABANA AZMI, ACTOR #prayersfor Manchester. Just woke up to news about the #Manchester attack... This is an attack on humanity VARUN DHAWAN, ACTOR

PHOTO: PETER BYRNE/PA/AP