Akshay Kumar’s impromptu appeal to donate for Bharat Ke Veer fetches 12.93 crore in Delhi

Actor Akshay Kumar’s gesture to postpone the release of his film PadMan, so that Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat can get a solo release, is drawing praise from all quarters. And now another gesture is bound to leave fans floored.

Akshay was present at the Teen Murti Bhawan in Delhi on Saturday morning for the launch of an anthem for the Bharat Ke Veer website - an initiative that allows people to transfer money directly into the bank accounts of the next of kin of martyred Indian soldiers . At the launch, presided by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval , actor Akshay Kumar and the singer of the anthem Kailash Kher, Rajnath Singh urged the audience , which included many eminent personalities , to donate.

Akshay then went up on stage and surprised everyone by saying, “Let us start now”. “I am willing to dance, sing, do anything that you’d like me to, but let us collect the maximum for the welfare of the families of those who sacrificed their lives for us,” Soon enough, several corporate honchos raised a hand and announcing their donations. Within minutes, Rs 12.93 crores was pledged to Bharat Ke Veer.

When we contacted Akshay for a comment, he said, “It was impromptu, and I am so touched by the response. I just feel there is no greater cause than working for the welfare of the families of our brave soldiers. I am glad we could raise this amount.”