Actor-producer Shah Rukh Khan who’s on an acting hiatus has made it to the headlines now for his generosity. After providing those affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown, with food, shelter, and essentials in Mumbai and other cities, he is now extending support to the regions in Kolkata that have been affected by the deadly Amphan cyclone that hit the state of West Bengal last week. The cyclone has wreaked severe damage on the state, let alone city, by uprooting trees, snapping cable wires, destroying buildings and houses, and even causing casualties.
Shah Rukh’s franchise Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) along with the Meer Foundation has pledged to help inhabitants of Kolkata.
According to a statement Khan put out,
- They will be contributing to the West Bengal Chief Minister Fund.
- The star will be sending out a number of vehicles, ‘KKR Sahayata Vahans’, to distribute essential ration and hygiene items across severely affected regions.
- They will help rebuild the homes and livelihood of acid attack survivors.
- Under their initiative ‘KKR Plant A 6’, they have pledged to replant 5000 saplings to make up for the uprooted trees.
In a note, Shah Rukh said, “Kolkata is more than just a city to me…it’s an emotion… In Kolkata, I have found friendship, love, I have found joy… but beyond everything, what I have learnt is the importance of unity and teamwork. Personally, I feel my journey with the Kolkata Knight Riders has served as a metaphor for life and its ups and downs. There have been good and bad days at Eden Garden, but at the end of the day, we all stood together in the stadium in hope and belief of Korbo…Lorbo…Jeetbo. Today as we face these turbulent times, my experience and learnings teach me that there is strength in standing strong together as a team – united and brave. To Fight Together and Win!”
He added, “To that end, Kolkata Knight Riders extends its support to the victims of Amphan…and look forward to overcoming all obstacles together. Love, Shah Rukh Khan.”
Kolkata, with unity comes strength and resilience. Let’s get through this together and help out those affected by Amphan. pic.twitter.com/XR5R0iGfQ2
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) May 29, 2020
Prior to this, his franchise Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket team, Trinbago Knight Riders collaborated with HADCO Limited, a food and electrical importation and distribution company, and distributed about 1000 food hampers to the needy in Trinidad and Tobago.
.@tkriders collaborated with HADCO Ltd. to ‘Do the Knight thing’ & distribute as many as 1k food hampers to the needy who are struggling because of the lockdown in Trinidad & Tobago. Proud of u my boys! pic.twitter.com/wHAYgSvnNv
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) May 8, 2020
Khan and Meer Foundation have been donating and, in a first, have also been sourcing funds from the general public to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, equipment and ventilators to provide to hospitals and medical workers.
The actor was also a part of several fundraisers and initiatives like ‘I For India’ and ‘One World: Together At Home’ organised by Give India and Global Citizen & World Health Organisation (WHO) respectively.
Health care workers on the frontlines of the #COVID19 crisis need our support. That’s why I’m standing in solidarity with @glblctzn and @WHO for One World: #TogetherAtHome — and one-night special event on April 18. Find out how and when you can tune in: https://t.co/UlyDDSy7Rl pic.twitter.com/SOVmaF86ps
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 14, 2020
Read: Bollywood And Hollywood Unite For The Biggest Home-To-Home Concert; Raise Funds For COVID19
Last month, the actor offered his personal office space to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for quarantining children, women, and elders in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read: Shah Rukh Khan Offers His Personal Office For Quarantining; BMC Expresses Gratitude
