Jackie Shroff, Rohit Shetty & Sunny Shah come forward to assist independent journalists affected by the lockdown

By - Ashok Anchan

Mumbai: The corona pandemic has had a substantial impact on people’s health with many losing their lives from this deadly virus. The government has imposed a lockdown to prevent the spread of this disease. Once again the second wave is more frightening than last year. Many people have lost their lives due to inconvenience of treatment. Many of them are falling prey to economic disaster. Small businessmen, private companies, labourers have suffered huge financial losses.

In such a situation, the only means of their hope is expecting help with some special sections. Many film personalities are also extending their hands.

The film industry too had a sizeable brunt with many once again being deprived of their livelihoods. The production activities had been halted and the releases have been cancelled and postponed. The lives of many have become miserable and have even left the city and head towards their native places. The government or other means of assistance hardly reaches them.    

Mirroring its blow across all sectors, especially the freelance film journalists and senior correspondents who have been around from four-decades had once again to face the disaster and struggle hard to fulfill their basic necessities. The situations have been disturbing with many being out of their job, no assignments and completely dried up their savings too. 

Few Bollywood celebrities like Jackie Shroff, Rohit Shetty, Sunny Shah have individually come forward to aid in the time of covid crisis and provide some relief. Veteran actor Jackie Shroff stepped forward to help independent journalists with food grains and basic necessities. He has been distributing ration kits, medicines, accessories to the journalists since the last lockdown. Director Rohit Shetty also assisted many independent journalists by giving them financial support. Star secretary and event manager Sunny Shah too distributed food kits.

Significantly, Johnny Vaz, a senior member too who has been reporting in Bollywood for more than thirty years took the initiative of helping some of the free-lancers. He has been in constant touch with many of his colleagues and was well aware of their plight and the prevailing financial conditions from the outbreak of COVID-19. Everyone, led by Johnny approached film industry’s celebrated actors, directors, filmmakers, business managers, personalities and apprised them of the situation. Jackie Shroff, Rohit Shetty and Sunny Shah immediately extended their hands and offered to assist him. 

All the journalists express their gratitude to all of them for their generous help received in the nick of time which was indeed a blessing in disguise.

By - Ashok Anchan