Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was the talk of the town after he donated a sum of Rs 1.5 crore to build a home for transgender people. Day by day, respect for Akshay is growing and it is because of the good things that he has been doing from the bottom of the heart.
From supporting Bharat Ke Veer to taking care of his Mission Mangal director Jagan Shakti’s medical bills during an emergency situation, he is always there for everyone. Once again, he has come out to support another good initiative.
Filmmaker Raghava Lawrence took to his official Facebook account to announce that he is building a transgender home in Chennai, claiming it to be the “first time in India”. Akshay Kumar has donated Rs 1.5 crores for this initiative. Raghava wrote in the long post that it was during their film Laxmi Bomb’s shoot that Akshay Kumar learnt about his initiative to help the community.
“During the making of my film Kanchana, I had met transgenders, and listened to their painful stories, how they were suddenly orphaned, even when it’s how God made them. They would have to sleep at railway stations, (and other such random places).
That’s when I thought about this shelter, for which I bought a land in my native place in Chennai, I was explaining it to Akshay sir one day, and he asked suddenly ‘can I build this building?’ I was shocked because we were planning to go to big people and ask them (for help), even doing a show through which we could collect funds, but here was Akshay sir. These kind of people are God. The place is yet to be ready,” Raghava Lawrence told Hindustan Times
This massive announcement and initiative have been welcomed by LGBTQI+ activists. Gauri Sawant said: “It’s a good initiative if someone is donating money for the community. (Bollywood stars like Akshay) supporting this is the need of the society. We work for the animal (welfare), why not transgenders? They are humans, only their sexual identity is different. Even I am building a house for kids of sex workers.”
Equal rights activist Harish Iyer says, “It’s a welcome move and people should stand up for other people. At the same time, any kind of philanthropy has to be heartfelt and continuous.”
Indian filmmaker Sridhar Rangayan, who has made films with special focus on queer subjects further adds, “It’s a great initiative, what they should do is consult the transgender community, what are their needs. They should not be left out.
Transgender people have a lot of problems in finding a home, for them, a commune-like this is very welcome. There are communes abroad in the United States and Europe. If something like this comes up, they can at least live their lives peacefully without any obstruction and trying to run around to find homes.”
Anand Mahindra applauds Akshay Kumar:
Chairman of Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra took to his official Twitter handle to applaud Akshay Kumar who donated Rs 1.5 crore to build a home for transgender people. Mahindra showered praise on Akshay Kumar and said, “Monday morning booster shot”. Mahindra added, “Bravo Akshay Kumar, you have the status to change the status of marginalised.”