The Bachchans, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Hrithik Roshan and Varun Dhawan, among others, have donated money, while Sushant Singh Rajput, Randeep Hooda, Kunal Kapoor are working to help with rescue and relief operations
Roshmila Bhattacharya, Natasha Coutinho and Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 21, 2018)

The century’s worst flood has left God’s own country in shambles. According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala has suffered an estimated loss of Rs 19,512 crore according to early estimates. Over 300 lives have been lost, and till Saturday, over 60,000 locals were relocated to more than 500 relief camps, most of them in Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Wayanad districts which has seen over 25 landslides in the last week, sweeping away homes, cattle and a few human lives too. According to revenue officials, 1,501 houses have been damaged, 101 of them completely destroyed. It’s going to take weeks, months, even years for the state, which was picture-perfect till August 6, to find its feet.

Shocked by heart-rending visuals flashing on the TV screen, on the social media, and in the newspapers, and tales of courage and strife, the country has come together as one to assist in the rehabilitation process, donating generously with cash and kind. Bollywood is doing its bit too.

On Sunday, National Award winning director, Priyadarshan, handed over a cheque for Rs 25 lakh to the Chief Minister from Akshay Kumar. “Akshay wants to give around Rs 75 lakh in all. We are working on three stages: rescue, relief and rehabilitation, and once we reach the third stage, he will send the rest,” informs the director who has worked with the actor in films like Hera Pheri, Garam Masala and Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

Akshay’s Garam Masala co-star, John Abraham, has also donated an amount he does not wish to disclose, and made further donations through his football club, NorthEast United FC. The actor who is currently in Kashmir filming his espionage thriller, RAW: Romeo Akbar Walter, told Mirror, “My father is from Kerala, half my roots are there. I have spent sleepless nights thinking about the lives lost. Things are slowly getting back to normal but so much damage has been done. I’m doing my bit to help out.”


Kerala native Resul Pookutty is in touch with the CM and his team daily and his foundation has been sending goods from Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru to the beleaguered state. The Oscar winning sound designer, editor and mixer has been busy mixing the music of Anil Sharma’s Genius which releases this Friday and hasn’t had much time to reach out for help. “But whoever I have messaged, has responded,” he says gratefully, all praise for the “exemplary” Bachchan family and the generosity of Shah Rukh Khan. “Alia (Bhatt), Sonam (Kapoor Ahuja), Rahul Bose and Vivek Oberoi have contributed as well,” he informs.

Vivek who was shooting in Kerala for his Malayalam film, Lucifer, and had returned home on Monday, has a special connection with the state as he has been offering prayers at the Sabarimala temple since he was 18. The actor was working on ground with the rescue team, his experience with the Mumbai floods coming in handy.

Randeep Hooda who turned 42 on Monday, has left for Kochi today with a truck load of essentials. He will go and help on ground with the Khalsa team.

Sources reveal that Varun Dhawan has donated Rs 10 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Hrithik Roshan, Shraddha Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar and Jacqueline Fernandez have also contributed to the cause.

Sushant Singh Rajput has gone one step forward. His foundation is putting together a special team, which includes doctors to set up medical camps in the state where diseases may soon be rampant.

Amyra Dastur whose dad is the medical director of a Mumbai hospital, has been working closely with him to dispatch medicines and vaccines. Her mother does a lot of pro bono work for the Red Cross, and Amyra has sent 200 packets of sanitary napkins and undergarments for around 200 girls and women, as also 100 blankets through the organisation. The actress who shot her debut Tamil film, Anegan, with Dhanush in Kerala, and also her debut Telugu film with Sundeep Kishan, Manasuku Nachindi, and her first music video with Anubhav Sinha in the backwaters, has also donated to the CM’s Relief Fund and contributed with food supplies worth Rs 50,000.

Amyra’s Issaq co-star Prateik Babbar, along with his aunt, Anita Patil Deshmukh, and Shyam Benegal’s daughter Pia Benegal, has opened a collection centre in the city. “My aunt is also assisting with air-dropping stuff and setting up housing quarters for those who have lost their homes,” says the actor.

On Saturday, filmmaker Nikkhil Advani had a private screening of the Malayalam film S Durga at his film club in the city. “The director, Sanal Sasidharan, could not make it as he is assisting with the relief work in Kerala, but he sent one of his actors, Kannan Nayar, with the print and a fervent plea to rebuild the ravaged state. I contributed immediately and have pushed the success party of my just-released film, Satyameva Jayate, because both John (the film’s leading man) and I are heartbroken over the natural calamity. This is no time for celebration, it’s the time to step up and do our bit as responsible citizens,” Nikkhil asserts.

Actor Kunal Kapoor, along with the Indian army and several NGOs, has been working to rescue lakhs of people from across the state. “At Ketto (his crowdfunding platform) we have partnered with multiple organisations that are trying to rehabilitate the flood survivors. We’ve raised close to Rs 1.25 crore, but a lot more is needed. I request people to come forward and donate generously. It takes only a few minutes, and every contribution, will make a big difference,” he urges.