India’s much-loved celebrity couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have come forward to jointly donate Rs. 3 crore towards India’s fight against the novel coronavirus, as per industry sources. Anushka and Virat are both socially conscious citizens who have been extremely vocal about raising awareness on the COVID-19 pandemic in India and their noble move will hopefully inspire many others to come forward and contribute in their own capacity.

Anushka and Virat are contributing towards the PM-CARES Fund, an initiative by the leader of the nation Narendra Modi and also donating towards the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund to fight COVID-19. In a joint statement, Anushka and Virat said they were pledging their “support towards PM-CARES Fund & the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (Maharashtra). Our hearts are breaking looking at the suffering of so many & we hope our contribution, in some way, helps easing the pain of our fellow citizens.”

Virat and I are pledging our support towards PM-CARES Fund & the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (Maharashtra). Our hearts are breaking looking at the suffering of so many & we hope our contribution, in some way, helps easing the pain of our fellow citizens #IndiaFightsCorona

— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) March 30, 2020

Anushka and Virat have been vocal about how they have been deeply concerned about the coronavirus spread in the country. They have been doing their best to raise awareness about the issue and now they have also decided to support the nation in this time of crisis. They have already called for all Indians to unite and support fellow citizens in their recently shared videos on social media and their move will hopefully trigger a lot more people to come forward and pledge their support.

ALSO READ: Anushka Sharma turns hairstylist for Virat Kohli, gives him a new look!

Over the weekend, PM Narendra Modi announced the creation of the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES) and urged everyone to make donations and support this noble cause. Kartik Aaryan has just now announced that he has donated Rs 1. crore towards the funds.

Kartik Aaryan replied to the PM on Twitter today and pledged to donate 1Cr for the cause. He states that he has reached this position because of the masses love and support and it is his time to support the citizens back. He wrote, “It is the absolute need of the hour to rise together as a nation. Whatever I am, whatever money I’ve earned, is only because of the people of India; and for us I am contributing Rs. 1 crore to the PM-CARES Fund. I URGE all my fellow Indians also to help as much as possible."

 

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We need each other now more than ever. Let’s show our support ????????

A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan) on Mar 29, 2020 at 10:41pm PDT

A number of celebrities have come forward to support our PM in these critical times. Right from Rajnikanth to Akshay Kumar to Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli, names and celebrities nationwide are doing their bit. Kartik Aaryan is the latest name on this list.

ALSO READ: Kartik Aaryan watches Pati Patni Aur Woh with his family, says his mother never waits for the credits

With the original team of Mr. India threatening to go legal on producers – Zee Studios and director Ali Abbas Zafar for purporting to turn the film into a franchise, the studio and Zafar have quietly put the project on the backburner.

A source close to Mr. India says, “They never expected such a hue and cry over the Mr. India franchise. After Mr. India’s director Shekhar Kapur decided to sue them, Zee Studios and Ali Abbas Zafar quietly dropped Mr. India and decided to do something else.”

Sources say the Zee Studios and Ali Abbas Zafar team has now decided to make a super-hero film with Katrina Kaif in the lead. When contacted Ali Abbas Zafar, he confirmed the project with Katrina.

For those who came in late, Kaif and Zafar are very close friends from the time he made his directorial debut with Mere Brother Ki Dulhan in 2011 in which she played the female lead. Zafar, subsequently, directed Kaif in Tiger Zinda Hai and Bharat, both co-starring Salman Khan.

With her pal teaming up with Zee Studios, Katrina will soon start training to do the stunts. She is all set to be the desi Gal Gadot. And we can’t wait to see her fly.

Also Read: Katrina Kaif and Ali Abbas Zafar are all set to reunite for a superhero flick

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is doing his part amid this global pandemic. As Coronavirus has brought the world to a standstill, it has affected the families of daily wage workers. The actor has pledged to financially support 25,000 daily wage workers from the film industry, according to Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of Coronavirus as the cases have increased rapidly. The 21-day lockdown has affected thousands of families. As 5 lakh workers work under FWICE, 25,000 of them were in dire need of financial support. Said Ashok Dube of the FWICE, “We at FWICE are in the process of compiling the bank details of those 25,000 members for forwarding the same to Salman Khan. His Foundation said, Salman would like to deposit money into each of those 25,000 accounts directly.”

FWICE president B.N. Tiwari added, “Salman Khan is the only industry person who has approached us for providing financial assistance to our members who are facing very tough times due to the complete suspension of shootings and other production work in the country’s battle against the coronavirus. Sadly, no other producer, filmmaker or star has approached us.”

The daily wage workers earn about Rs. 15,000 a month. The actor already contributes Rs. 5 lakh every month, thus, taking care of their medical expenses too, revealed Ashoke Pandit, the chief adviser. He said that Salman and Salim Khan have always helped the industry.

Ashok Dube, who has been with the FWICE for two years now, also revealed, “In the last two years, Salman Khan has made contributions totalling about Rs. 1.5 crore to our worker-members in their times of need, whether for hospitalization or otherwise. God bless Salman.”

Salman's father Salim Khan also revealed that the family is looking after the meals of people in their building and his security guards. He said that we must all look after the staff. As far as Salman Khan Films is concerned, the employees were reportedly given their salaries early as soon as the lockdown was announced. The actor is even taking care of the ration of their studio members who are in dire need.

Last week, filmmakers and actors, including Karan Johar, Taapsee Pannu, Ayushmann Khurrana, Kiara Advani, Rakul Preet Singh, Sidharth Malhotra, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, AR Murugadoss, Sanjay Dutt and Nitesh Tiwari pledged their support for daily wage earners via an initiative called I Stand With Humanity, started by organisations -- the International Association for Human Values, the Art of Living Foundation and the Indian Film and TV Industry. This program will provide 10 days of essential food supplies to the families of daily wage earners.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Salman Khan goes a step ahead; to provide essential commodities to daily wage cine workers and their families

Earlier this month, it was reported that Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for Coronavirus. The actor was in Australia for the shooting for Elvis Presley biopic. After diagnosis, they were being treated in an Australian hospital. And now, they are back home in the United States!

"We're home now, and like the rest of America, we carry on sheltering place and social distancing," Tom Hanks tweeted on Saturday, March 29. "Many, many thanks to everyone in Australia who looked after us. Their care and guidance made possible our return to the USA. And many thanks to all of you who reached out with well wishes. Rita and I so appreciate it," the actor wrote.

pic.twitter.com/f6wLTkz90m

— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) March 28, 2020

On March 16, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were released from a Queensland hospital in Australia and are now in self-quarantine at their rented home. After announcing their diagnosis, Tom Hanks assured his fans that they were been taken care of properly. "Thanks to the Helpers. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other. Hanx," he wrote on Twitter.

On the work front, Tom Hanks was shooting for Baz Luhrmann's upcoming Elvis Presley biopic where he is essaying the role of Elvis' manager.

ALSO READ: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson released from hospital after receiving treatment for coronavirus in Australia