Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 12, 2020)

As a gesture of respect and gratitude towards the police force for the endless hours of work that they have put in during the Coronavirus lockdown, several actors, sports stars and prominent personalities from various walks of life replaced their social media display pictures (DP) with the logo of the Maharashtra Police. It was an initiative by Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Besides changing their DP, many actors, including Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh and Varun Dhawan, have been tweeting words of praise for the police force. Nimrat Kaur says, “The police officers are risking everything when they step out to do their duty. For the safety of their loved ones, they’re often unable to go home. This was just a small gesture to show our love and gratitude.”

Talking about their selfless service, Tisca Chopra says, “Tough times are a test of character and what has been shown by the Maharashtra Police, the BMC and healthcare workers, is true grit. We won’t forget the courage they have shown.” Rohit Roy adds, “Our police personnel are putting their lives on the line to protect us. The least we can do is appreciate them and let them know that we are grateful.”