Sonu Sood is not big on birthdays, but nothing can stop his fans from making it special for him. Another temple is being constructed for the actor in Andhra Pradesh, and he feels humbled by it.

“I’m humbled to see the love being showered by them. The moment I started helping people, I didn’t focus on one village or state, it was pan India. I want to continue making it bigger,” he tells us, adding that on his birthday, he’ll start a new initiative. “I want to make education free of cost for everyone in this country,” he says.

Turning 48 today, Sood emerged as a messiah figure in 2020 by arranging transportation for migrants who were walking back to their home towns during the lockdown. He also helped people through social media. Cut to 2021, and he says things have become bigger, and frequency of calls has increased. And therefore, this is how his birthday will be spent.

“I’m getting calls from different states. There are seven-eight people walking, some are on bicycles, some on bikes, who’re coming all the way to Mumbai on my birthday. It’s a big challenge. I’ll make sure it happens no matter how much time it takes,” says Sood, sharing his birthday wish for this year is “to have at least 1000-1500 free beds in hospitals, and ten times more scholarships for students by my next birthday”.

The actor reveals the reason he doesn’t believe in opting for big celebrations, though he admits that he used to be quite the opposite before. “Lately, I feel very shy. There were times when for two-three years I’d choose to be on a flight on my birthday. I miss my parents more, I wish they were around. Those who brought me into this world are not there so I don’t feel like celebrating. But I’m obviously there for my family,” he concludes.