Sonali Kulkarni took the first jab of the Coronavirus vaccine back in April but says that the process has been nothing short of a “struggle”. She believes that no public figure should make use of their celebrity status to avail benefits at a time of crisis when everyone is struggling to get vaccinated.

“I don’t think any celebrity should try to get vaccination through a quicker route. The whole world is sailing on the same boat. Right now, we need to cooperate. As for me, I had to stand in the queue. I wasn’t treated like a VIP and I didn’t want to be treated as one either,” she shares.

Despite doing charitable work during the on-going pandemic, the actor has no qualms in confiding that she was not given any extra benefits as she had a hard time arranging vaccines for her aged parents who live in Pune.

Kulkarni says, “I’ve stood by every charitable organisation and given them shout outs. I haven’t charged anyone for any interactive session or a fund-raiser. I haven’t even publicized about my monetary donations. I’ve also been a part of organisations that were raising money for backstage artistes and technicians. Even after all that, I struggled to get appointments for my parents’ second jab.”

In her signature candour, the Bharat (2019) actor rues the lack of financial security for actors at a time like this. “We aren’t counted as frontline workers. Entertainment isn’t considered to be an essential. Hence, my fraternity doesn’t have any security. I feel for them. I wish more and more people stood for us. Yes, we aren’t social workers and we’re paid to entertain people. We aren’t considered important enough and that’s deeply painful,” she ends.