Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 30, 2020)

Sonu Sood, who has been working tirelessly for the welfare of migrant labourers over the last three months, isn’t going to take a day off on his birthday, either. On his special day, the actor has planned to organise medical camps across the country which, he expects, around 50,000 people to attend.

“I have been planning this for quite some time, and I’ve been speaking to a lot of doctors in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Punjab and Orissa. But now, floods have hit Assam and Bihar, so we are figuring out how to hold them there. They can’t be regular camps where thousands of people used to come. It will be free of cost,” reveals the actor, who turns 47 today.

When asked why it won’t be like normal camps, Sood says it’s because of Coronavirus guidelines. “We have been facing challenges, as there has to be social distancing. If we announce just like that, 5000-6000 people will come together, we can’t have that. We are getting ready for 40-50,000 people across India. We have been in touch with gram panchayats and mukhiyas, so that there is a time these people can come and get their check-ups done,” he says.

Given that he’ll be busy all day, quintessential celebrations may take a step back this time around. During the past three months, when he has been busy with welfare work, has the actor’s family ever complained that he doesn’t spend time with them?

“They know and understand that I am trying to help people,” says Sood, adding, “I asked my son, ‘Beta, are you not happy that I’m not spending time with you?’ He said ‘nahi daddy, logon ko help karna zaroori hai’. That gives you more power, that you are doing something right. I feel sorry about it, but at least I’m able to bring some change in the lives of these people.”