Sonu Sood: During the pandemic, I felt helping the migrants was what I was born to do In the space of a year, Sonu Sood

Has gone from being known for his bad guy roles on screen to his good guy act in real life. Over the last one year, the actor has helped thousands of migrant workers and underprivileged people get back home during the lockdown and support them during hard times. Speaking at a session in a virtual cultural festival earlier today, the actor talked about his philanthropic work during the pandemic, saying that he had an epiphany of sorts during the pandemic when got the opportunity to help migrant workers stuck in Mumbai get back home. He explained, “When the migrants came out on roads, we realised our country runs on them. They are invisible normally. But the pandemic brought their suffering out in the open. I always believe that whatever happens in your life, there is a reason. I came to Mumbai in 1997 to become an actor but during the pandemic, I realised what it was all for. This is what I was born to do. This is why I came to Mumbai, to help these people get home. It was a very special experience, the most special of my life.”

The actor was speaking at a cultural fest, where he admitted that when he began, he thought sending the first batch of migrants would be all and he never expected his movement to become so big. “I never realised it would get so big. I thought sending 350 people back to Karnataka was job done. Then I started receiving calls and within days, I had thousands of calls,” he said. The actor even put his film career on hold briefly during the lockdown as his work in helping the migrants took more and more of his time. He said, “I got many script offers during this period. I couldn’t read them because my priority was helping these people. I have thoroughly enjoyed this process.”

The actor shared an interesting anecdote about how his milkman and the cycle repairman outside his building in Mumbai have taken it upon themselves to assist him. “Every morning, there are 50-60 people outside my building, waiting to talk to me and share their problems. So even if I have to go to the gym, it would take me an hour and a half to just talk to everyone and get to my car. What happened was that in time, my milkman has become my de facto manager. He comes early, talks to those people, notes down their grievances and shortlists what to tell me. The cycle repair guy near the building will help out. They have no reason to but they do. That’s the message I want to take that when you do something good, people will connect with you,” said Sonu.