Amitabh Bachchan donates INR 20m to India's Covid fight, slams social media for 'distasteful comments'

Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan has pressed the need for the world's united effort to fight Covid, and called for help for his struggling homeland. This came after the actor announced his efforts to fight against Covid, slamming the media for its showmanship.

Big Bachchan made the appeal in his appearance on 'Vax Live: The Concert to Reunited the World'. The pre-recorded show went live on Saturday.

Vax Live was hosted by American singer Selena Gomez, and appearances were made by stars such as Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, Jimmy Kimmel, Sean Penn and David Letterman. Musicians Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin, H.E.R. and Jennifer Lopez, and her mom, performed before a fully vaccinated audience of several thousand people.

Posting on social media, Bachchan noted the privilege he felt to be part of the concert, and the fight for India.

“Namaskar, this is Amitabh Bachchan. My country India is battling with the sudden surge of the second wave of Covid-19. As a global citizen I appeal to all global citizens to rise up, speak to your governments, pharmaceutical companies and ask them to donate, to give, to extend a helping hand, to the public that needs it the most. Every effort counts. As Mahatma Gandhiji said: ‘In a gentle way you can shake the world’. Thank you,” he said.

In a blog post that was published on Saturday, the Indian star noted all that he, and his family, had done for India's fight against Covid. He highlighted the embarrassment he felt in publicising his efforts, and his wish to do so silently and behind the scenes. He slammed the media and social media users who had been mistaking his silence for inaction.

Bachchan said he and his family had been ignoring the “every day abuse and the filth of distasteful comments”, focusing instead on what they can do for the people struggling.

“Only the receiver knew and that was the end,” wrote the superstar.

It was later learnt, from sources beyond the man himself, that Big B had donated some INR 20 million to a Covid facility in Delhi. Politician Manjinder Singh Sirsa took note of the donations, and appreciated the actor for his efforts.

“Amitabh Bachchan Ji contributed a huge amount and also took the pain to ensure oxygen concentrators get shipped from abroad and reach on time. He is not just a reel hero but a real life hero,” the politician tweeted.

Several other Bollywood stars have also been donating and urging fans to aid in India's fight against Covid. Sonu Sood had opened a channel called ‘India Fights With Covid’ on Telegram. With this channel, the actor is finding hospitals, medicines and oxygen to the needy.

Celebrity couple Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna have collectively donated 100 oxygen concentrators, in addition to donating INR 10 million to Indian cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir's foundation. Salman Khan has been running food trucks serving struggling patients and front line health workers. Actor Anhuska Sharma and her superstar cricketer husband Virat Kohli started a fundraising campaign to help generate money to tackle India's crisis.