Mumbai: Close on the heels of actor Akshay Kumar pledging to donate Rs 25 crore in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, actress Anushka Sharma and her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli, have pledged to support the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and Chief Minister's (Maharashtra) Relief Fund in the ongoing battle against the coronavirus pandemic. A source in the industry told IANS that Virat and Anushka have jointly donated Rs 3 crore towards the cause.
Anushka on Monday tweeted: "Virat and I are pledging our support towards PM-CARES Fund & the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (Maharashtra). Our hearts are breaking looking at the suffering of so many & we hope our contribution, in some way, helps easing the pain of our fellow citizens #IndaFightsCorona."
Virat too took to Twitter to make the announcement.
"Anushka and I are pledging our support towards PM-CARES Fund & the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (Maharashtra). Our hearts are breaking looking at the suffering of so many & we hope our contribution, in some way, helps easing the pain of our fellow citizens #IndiaFightsCorona," he wrote.
In a joint statement, the power couple said they were pledging their "support towards PM-CARES Fund & the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (Maharashtra)."
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"Our hearts are breaking looking at the suffering of so many & we hope our contribution, in some way, helps easing the pain of our fellow citizens," they added.
Meanwhile, Kartik Aaryan also came forward and contributed Rs 1 crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s PM-CARES fund.
"It is the absolute need of the hour to rise together as a Nation. Whatever I am, whatever money I’ve earned, is only because of the people of India; and for us, I am contributing Rs 1 crore to the PM-CARES Fund. I URGE all my fellow Indians also to help as much as possible," tweeted Aaryan.
Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao is also doing his bit to fight the coronavirus pandemic. He has contributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's relief fund, Chief Minister's (Maharashtra) relief fund, and Zomato Feeding India to help feed families in need.
Rajkummar doesn't want to reveal the amount, but tweeted on Sunday: "It's time to stand together & to help our administration in this fight against Coronavirus. I've done my bit..Donated to #PMReliefFund #CMReliefFund and to #ZomatoFeedingIndia to help feed families in need. Please support in whatever way you can. Our Nation Needs Us. Jai Hind."
Some of his followers even praised him for not revealing the amount.
Earlier, Bollywood Superstar Akshay Kumar had announced to donate Rs 25 crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s PM-CARES fund to help the government in the COVID-19 fight. PM Modi had earlier on Saturday announced the creation of the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES) where people can contribute and help the government in the fight against coronavirus pandemic.
Taking to Twitter, Akshay said that safeguarding the lives of the people is of paramount importance right now.
This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi ji’s PM-CARES Fund. Let’s save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai, Akshay wrote in tweet on Saturday.
https://twitter.com/akshaykumar/status/1243867585294131201
A number of celebrities have come forward to donate money so as to help people in crisis amid coronavirus lockdown across the country.
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South superstar Rajinikanth was the first celebrity to come forward by donating Rs 50 lakh to help daily wage workers.
(With Agency Inputs)