This, the year of the Covid, has thrown forward many surprises, not the least of them being the massive philanthropic work undertaken by Sonu Sood. Within these nine trying months when mankind has gone from hope to extreme despair, Sonu’s large-scale war-footing charitable work proves there is a lacuna in the field of large-scale humanism which this actor-turned-humanitarian has filled so amply.
I have known Sonu for 20 years. I got to know of him before I knew. He was seeing the girlfriend of an actor-friend who was two-timing the actor-friend. The actress would come home to my actor-friend with telltale love-bites, rendering the question. ‘Where were you all night?’ rather redundant.
Sonu always was a man filled with love.
Eventually both my actor-friend and Sonu Sood broke away from the actress. Sonu made a name for himself in Telugu and Hindi cinema. Today he has gone far beyond the profession of‘ acting’ on his calling card. Sonu is a genuinely evolved and involved Indian citizen who understands the logistics of shared wealth far better than most Indians.
If Sonu has five Rotis on his plate he will give two to charity because three rotis are enough to fill his belly. Today he has state governments and the most powerful business organizations and industrialists supporting his charitable work.
Cynics say he is doing the good work for publicity and self-gain. Theek hai, aap bhi karo na? Why try to take away from the amazing work that this man is doing on a daily basis, healing the hurt, mending the wounded, and fixing the gaping loopholes in Indian healthcare. Sonu is hands-down the Indian Of The Year.
Runner-up Diljit Dosanjh, for taking on the most toxic Twitter user in the universe (chuckles).
