BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 9 (IANS) Daily wage earners have been badly hit due to the COVID-19 lockdown, and Arunabh Kumar, founder of The Viral Fever (TVF), along with YouTubers like Bhuvan Bam and Prajakta Koli, has started an initiative called #CreatorsforWorkers to pitch in with help.## New media entrepreneurs like Gurpreet Singh, Founder of One Digital, and other content creators will help the workers during this lockdown period and the fight after.## Talking about this initiative and why he felt it was necessary to be done for the daily wage earners, Arunabh said: "Everyone is doing their best to help those in need by providing monetary help or donating medical help and other necessities to the underprivileged. After working with local groups to help these workers, I realized that the workers, who are lifelines of India, need to be made aware of the pandemic in a more effective fashion.## "While all of us are sharing the message in English and Hindi, it's not reaching to these workers in their own local or regional language, and a lot is lost in translation. We saw it necessary that the information needs to reach them in their local language and dialect. That's the insight that I along with my Creator Friends believe in and want to reach out to them using WhatsApp so that they understand the problem as over 70 crore Indians connected to workers are critical in fighting this war against corona and for that they need to have the information they can appreciate, which we have tried to spread amongst all," he added.## Bhuvan shared that it's an idea that can actually help the people who have no presence on social media. "Explaining to them the seriousness of the situation in their own language will hopefully make things better for their family and friends."## Prajakta said that the thousands of housemaids in Mumbai can understand the habits to fight corona in their local lingo much better and she believes the change has to begin at grassroots.## The initiative will include content creators who will shoot a video in their native language explaining all the instructions that need to be followed by everyone in this time of need.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 9 (IANS) Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan has taken to social media to express gratitude to the people associated with supplying and delivering necessary items, at a time when the entire nation is witnessing a lockdown owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.## The veteran actor shared a video on Twitter and wrote: "I express my sincere gratitude to all #SupplyWarriors who are risking their lives every day to serve the nation. We salute your determination towards keeping #India connected amidst lockdown. #IndiaFightsCorona".## In the video, Bachchan says in Hindi: "At a time when the entire nation is observing the lockdown in response to the Prime Minister's appeal and battling the war against coronavirus, there are among us a set of selfless supply warriors who are playing a crucial role in this battle. A major reason for the success of this lockdown is the selfless dedication of these supply warriors. I express my gratitude to them. These include truck drivers, our brothers and sisters associated with loading and unloading of goods, workers associated with railway racks, air-cargo and ports, Indian Air Force, pilots and crew members of Air India and all those people associated with supplying food items and medicines at this hour."## He also mentioned local shopkeepers, and delivery boys and girls. "I would also like to thank the local shopkeepers and our brothers and sisters who are delivering necessities like milk, fruits, vegetables, and other food items to our homes or helping us at the shops," he said.## The actor concluded with a message for citizens urging them to cooperate and stay at home. "It is because of these supply warriors that you all are getting necessary items during this time. I'd like to convey to the citizens that please rest assured because as long as these supply warriors are active, you will not face any problem in getting the necessities. Therefore, please don't hoard unnecessary items. Stay at home. Stay safe," he said.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 9 (IANS) Actor Sonu Sood has offered his Juhu hotel for healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and the paramedical staff during the coronavirus pandemic.## "It's my honor to be able to do my bit for the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of our country who have been working day and night to save the lives of millions in the country. I'm really happy to open the doors of my hotel for these real-time heroes," Sonu said.## The actor is also making the best use of social media platforms, spreading awareness about the novel coronavirus among people. He has also been telling people how to workout at home and maintain fitness. In a recent Instagram post, Sonu I seen using home furniture as gymming equipment.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 9 (IANS) Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan has started distributing 2000 packets of food daily to provide lunch and dinner to the needy across Mumbai amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This gesture in addition to providing monthly ration to one lakh households of daily wage workers associated with the All India Film Employees Confederation.## The actor took to his blog to talk about his social service. "Meanwhile on the personal front .. 2000 packets of food are being given each day for lunch and dinner at various locations over the city .. and the larger bags of a monthly provision about 3000 bags, which would take care of at 12,000 months is in process," he wrote.## He even revealed the locations where the needy were being fed.## "Most of the feeding is taking place at the Haji Ali dargah, the Mahim dargah, the Babulnath Temple, the slum in Bandra and a few other slums in the interior North of the city .. it is so difficult to cover as many as we may want to .. but..."## The actor then highlighted the practical problems faced in the transportation of supplies because of the nationwide lockdown.## "The process has its problems .. the lockdown has now made it illegal to step out of the house and living areas .. so even though I have been able to get the bags ready its transportation causes problems," he wrote.## "One cargo vehicle can carry 50-60 bags of the essential package .. so 3000 packages would involve so many more vehicles .. the vehicles is not the problem, it's their movement that is restricted."## The problem is not just in transportation but also during the distribution of food, because slum-dwellers who have been starving over the past few days tend to get unruly and impatient during the distribution of food. This often creates a stampede-like situation.## "The authorities are saying that when the package arrives, people, especially those in the slums for whom the material is specially packed, have not eaten for 3-4 days and they rush for the vehicle to pick up their package, which almost causes a stampede and the Police cannot allow that to happen, with the conditions of 'social distancing', "Big B wrote.## The actor also revealed that he gives instructions to carry out the process in the right way.## "Even where the daily food is being distributed I have insisted that proper lines are formed keeping distances from one another .. the volunteers, thank the Lord are working tirelessly in extreme conditions to make sure of its proper functioning .. it is a tough task .. but what can be done .. the cues are large and with each passing day are getting bigger and bigger," he said in his post.## Lauding the people associated with the process, he expressed: "We try to provide .. but getting the provision to reach the needy is an exercise! Something will work out I hope and pray .. I get a video and pictures of all the procedures happening each hour so I can give instructions .. which is a great help .. and of course the team that works day and night is incredibly diligent."## Meanwhile, Big B also took to Twitter to express words of gratitude for supply warriors who are risking their lives to serve the nation in this hour of crisis.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, April 9 (IANS) Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu on Thursday took a moment to appreciate the efforts of the Telangana Police for working day and night to ensure that the nationwide lockdown, implemented to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, is a success.## "I want to take this moment to wholeheartedly thank the Telangana police force for spearheading the battle against COVID-19. Their relentless hard work is absolutely outstanding. Immense gratitude for safeguarding our lives and the health of our families during these most challenging times !!## "Saluting your selfless dedication towards our country and it's people.#TelanganaPolice #StayHomeStaySafe," Mahesh Babu wrote.## The lockdown came into effect on March 24.## A few days ago, Mahesh Babu urged everyone to practice social distancing as well as fear distancing.## "Besides social distancing and maintaining good hygiene, there is something as important that needs our attention- #FearDistancing - Keeping ourselves away from people and news that creates panic and fear. Fake news is a real issue! Stay away from misguided information," he had tweeted.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Actress Karishma Tanna says the lockdown has made her totally filmi.## Karishma shared a TikTok video of herself on Instagram. In the monochrome video, the actress is seen mouthing the lines of the old classic "Kora kagaz tha yeh man mera" from the film "Aradhana". The track is originally sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar.## "#corona #coronaeffect I have become totally filmy . Hey bhagwaan bachalo (please god save me) ... #tiktok #oldisgold #quarantine," she captioned the video, which currently has over 228K likes.## On the work front, Karishma is currently the part of the action reality show "Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10" (KKK 10).## The new season is shot in Bulgarian landscapes with actors Ada Khan, Amruta Khanvilkar Karan Patel, Shivin Narang, Tejashwi Prakash, Amruta Khanvilkar and Rani Chatterjee, along with comedian Balraj Syal, RJ Malishka and choreographer Dharmesh Yelande.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) On Wednesday, megastar Amitabh Bachchan tried to spread some hope amid the ongoing health crisis triggered off by the COVID-19 pandemic. He recited a poem by his late father Harivansh Rai Bachchan to inspire people.## "I reminisce my Father and his poem, which expresses hope and strength. The singing is exactly how Babu Ji recited it at Kavi Sammelans, which I attended with him," Big B tweeted.## He posted a video in which he is seen reciting the poem, which would aptly seem to describe the current situation of the world.## "Hai andheri raat par diva jalana kab mana hai, kya ghadi thi ek bhi chinta nahi thi paas aayi, Kya ghadi thi ek bhi chinta nahi thi paas aayi," Big B recited the poem in the four-minute, 10-second video, accompanied by soothing music in the backdrop.## On Tuesday, Big B featured in a made-at-home short film titled "Family" that also stars Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Priyanka Chopra, along with superstars from regional cinema such as Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Chiranjeevi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Shiva Rajkumar, besides Dilit Dosanjh and Sonalee Kulkarni.## The four-minute, 39-second film has been conceptualized and virtually directed by Prasoon Pandey in collaboration with Big B. It talks about how staying at home, staying safe, maintaining hygiene, working from home and maintaining social distancing can be productive. At the end of the video, Big B also appeals in favor of the film industry's daily wage workers who are currently left with no income owing to a complete halt in filming activity due to the lockdown, which began last month.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Actress Anushka Sharma on Wednesday shared a throwback picture from the time she was promoting the 2018 film "Sui Dghaaga" along with co-star Varun Dhawan.## In the image, Anusha and Varun can be seen sitting on a bicycle. With the image, the actress recalled the time when she could actually go out and didn't have to wear masks.## "When we used to be outdoor, in crowds and wearing sunglasses, not masks," she captioned the image.## Apart from this, Anushka has been trying her best to spread awareness among people about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. She recently spoke about how she wants to help as many as possible in her best abilities.## "Today, when I'm surrounded by all the blessings in my life, I just want to tell everyone how much compassion I feel for everyone who I see suffer. I want to help as many possible to the best of my abilities. I feel pride in our resilience to be better human beings. I can instinctively feel this in and around me.## "We will all have our individual and subjective lessons from this time and hopefully such lessons will continuously stay with us all," she had said.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit-Nene has shared a gorgeous black and white photograph of herself along with a special message.## Madhuri took to Instagram, where she shared the monochrome picture. In the image, a young Madhuri can be seen looking away from the camera.## She captioned the image: "Eyes on the road. Feet inside the house. #LockdownVibes #PauseAndRewind."## Her image currently has 256K likes on the photo-sharing website. Madhuri keeps sharing her blast from the past pictures.## Earlier this month, Madhuri and her husband Sri Ram Nene announced that they are making a donation to the PM-CARES fund and Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund to extend their support to fight coronavirus.## Amid lockdown, Madhuri teamed up with Kathak exponent Birju Maharaj and choreographers like Saroj Khan, Terence Lewis, and Remo D'souza to offer free dance lessons on DancewithMadhuri.com.## On the work front, Madhuri was last seen on screen in "Kalank".## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Actor Varun Dhawan has decided to provide free meals for doctors and healthcare staff who are leading the nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.## On Wednesday, Varun took to Instagram and shared that he will facilitate meals for doctors and medical staff engaged in the coronavirus battle, and also pitch in to provide meals for the poor.## "With each passing day of being locked down at home, my heart goes out to all those who have no home in this time of crisis. And so this week I've committed to providing meals for the poor who are without homes or jobs," the actor posted on social media.## "I also have deep admiration for all those who are risking their lives by working on the frontlines. I've committed to providing meals to doctors and medical staff at hospitals. All meals are provided through the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust. It's a small step. But during a crisis like this, we have to make every step count. I will continue to do what best I can," he added.## "It is a long battle and we have to fight it together," he wrote, adding: "Finding solutions is the only way forward."## On the film front, Varun will next be seen opposite Sara Ali Khan in "Coolie No. 1". The film is a remake of the Govinda-Karisma Kapoor starrer of the same name that released in 1997 and was directed by Varun's father David Dhawan, who also calls the shots on the new version.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) Actor Sachiin J. Joshi, who is stranded in Dubai, has offered his hotel here to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to quarantine COVID-19 positive patients coming from abroad.## Sachiin's Beatle Hotel in Powai is a 36-room property.## "Mumbai being a densely populated city, there are not enough hospitals and beds to take measures to save our city. When the BMC approached us for help, we voluntarily agreed to help," Sachiin said.## "We've converted our hotel with the BMC's help into a quarantine facility for travelers," added the actor, who was last seen in "Amavas" opposite Nargis Fakhri and Mona Singh.## "The entire building and rooms get sanitized regularly with staff equipped with the necessary gear," he said.## Sachiin is also donating nutritious food boxes to policemen and municipal workers fighting the COVID-19 outbreak in India through his Big Brother Foundation.## "I'm glad that our hotel in Powai ‘The Beatle' has been given to the BMC for quarantining people. It's my husband's decision and I respect and support it," said Sachiin's wife Urvashi, adding: "We have been distributing food from our hotel to all officials and people stuck on the road. Our team has been selflessly doing it for almost two weeks now and will continue to give our support until we can."## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) Apart from social distancing, we also need to practice "fear distancing", suggests Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu. This is extremely necessary at a time when fake news and myths are circulating about the COVID-19 pandemic.## "Besides social distancing and maintaining good hygiene, there is something as important that needs our attention- #FearDistancing - Keeping ourselves away from people and news that creates panic and fear. Fake news is a real issue! Stay away from misguided information," Mahesh Babu tweeted on Tuesday.## Tuesday also being World Health Day, the actor lauded the health workers and Indian government. He wrote: "Two weeks of lockdown and we have been going strong. Hugely appreciate the united efforts of our governments. This #WorldHealthDay, let's take a moment to thank all those on the frontline of our battle against COVID-19 who ensure we remain in good health. Much respect and admiration for all the brave warriors on the streets and hospitals who've put our lives above theirs during this health crisis. God bless you all."## Sharing a message for his fans, the superstar wrote in a separate tweet: "I urge everyone reading this to spread positivity, love, hope, and empathy. We shall all sail through this storm together. #StayHomeStaySafe."## Stay tuned...