Actor Sonu Sood might have played antagonist roles
on the big screen but his real-life heroism of sending migrant workers home is
receiving a lot of accolades and appreciation. He ensured that all those who
had no option but to walk a thousand miles in the lockdown phase of India, got
hassle-free transport to ease their miseries.
When he started this drive, little did Sonu know
that people would respond the way they did.

 “Trust factor played a big
role in people reaching out to me. When migrants realized that I was there to
help, they, instead of walking, stayed back and waited for me to get all the
permissions. As the trust factor grew, so did my sense of responsibility. I
knew I had to do more, to live up to that trust.
As calls for help kept pouring in, I set up a toll-free number and drafted all
my staff and friends to set up a team of 15-20 people. 

They compiled
lists on the basis of the destination of the migrants and planned everything.
Another team of 50-60 volunteers were involved in feeding people. These two
teams were my support system that really helped me. We still have miles to go
but the journey is on,” said Sonu.

The
actor not only arranged buses for them but has also airlifted some of the
workers from different parts of India. So far, he has sent over 20,000 migrant
workers home.

 And he calls this initiative the most important phase of his life.

“This has become the important phase of my life. I wanted to help but I never
knew it would grow to this magnitude. I am blessed that God chose me as a tool
to help them and I will keep on helping them whether it is feeding, providing
hotel accommodation or helping migrants reach their homes. This effort takes up
almost 20 hours of my day and I wish I had 30 hours so that I could do more,”
he summarized.

 So what is the most special thing about this entire work?

“The best thing I heard in this journey was when a migrant called up and said
 that he had named his son Sonu Sood Shrivastava.  I said, ‘you can’t
name him Sonu Sood Shrivastava, it can be Sonu Shrivastava.’ He replied, ‘No
sir not in my family.’ This was very special and will always stay with me.

“I wish I could reach out to more and more people and reunite them with their
families. The journey is on and I will leave no stone unturned to make my
parents, who are in heaven, proud of me.  I know they are guiding me. I
remember my mother used to say, ‘you are successful only when you can help
someone.’ I am trying to do my bit and I will walk on the path my mother taught
me to walk on.  Thank you so much and God bless you,” ended Sonu on a positive
note.