Varun Sharma whose mother, Veena Gulshan, retired as a Fine Arts teacher from a renowned college in Jalandhar is now working towards mobilising other retired teachers in Punjab. “Being a teacher is not an easy job and it's sad that they have to subsist on such small pensions after working so hard. A few of my childhood friends and I have pledged to support two families of retired teachers in Punjab. We will sort out their monthly expenses,“ informs Varun who will be next seen in Dinesh Vijan's Raabta. “At an age when they should relax, they are forced to do odd jobs like baby-sitting. All I am trying to do is to help them and spread awareness about the problem,“ asserts the actor, adding that he visits Punjab once a few months to spend time with the teachers and their families. “I love spending time with elders. They talk about their life experiences and there is so much to learn from them,“ says the Fukrey actor whose mother retired last year after 38 years of service and now lives with him in Mumbai. “She doesn't say much but she appreciates my decision. I know she is proud of me,“ he smiles.