Climate Warrior to a Covid Warrior, Bhumi Pednekar is the voice of change in new India

Over six years ago, in January 2015, when I walked in for my first interview with Bhumi Pednekar, I had just liked what I had seen of her in the trailer and promos of her debut film Dum Laga Ke Haisha. But once the interview was over, I had a different opinion about her. No, I am not speaking about her acting prowess but her temperament and her humane nature. What touched me the most was there was this girl, who had not only made it on her own accord but also retained the heart and soul that she must have imbibed from her parents. After all, it’s about the upbringing that educates you in life and Bhumi was a firebrand but unlike others, she was a rarity – her fire had more heart than spunk, more emotions than attitude. Even after tasting supreme success and establishing herself as one of the top runners in the business, I can vouch for one thing – Bhumi has not changed one bit.

While many actors put their voice to good use and support several causes, most do it out of need and the desire to get good press. Let’s face it – we have had several messiahs headlining columns but the ones who matter are actually silently doing it without bothering. Today’s piece is dedicated to Bhumi, not just because I adore her as a person but because I have personally witnessed the hard work and dedication with which she has been tirelessly helping people in need around the country. Let’s just get this straight out – none of us imagined a second Covid wave as deadly as this. While the country’s medical infrastructure was left in shambles, it was down to people being there for people. Only we could make that difference and that’s exactly what Bhumi did.

For years, she has been channelising the power of her voice to educate Indians and people across the globe about the need for a more sustainable lifestyle. Being a climate Warrior, she has been at the forefront of change along with other amazingly dedicated individuals like Anushka Sharma, Dia Mirza, Juhi Chawla to name a few. As for Covid, while people like Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas and Anushka Sharma-Virat Kohli have been working frantically to raise enough funds to meet the medical demands of Indian citizens, there are also messiahs like Sonu Sood and a Bhumi Pednekar who have been tirelessly dealing with the affected countrymen and their families on a one-to-one basis.

Many might call this a PR piece. No, it’s not. Else it could have come out weeks prior to today. I’m speaking from personal experience. Two friends of mine reached out to me two weeks ago when they were looking out for plasma to save their ailing mother in Delhi. While I put it up on my social media too, I had shared the same with Bhumi’s team and Bhumi herself, too. The plasma was arranged within minutes and today, my friend’s mother is back home – hale and hearty, completely recovered. This is just my story. I’m sure hundreds of people out there have a similar story to share.

Bhumi has been frantically working round the clock, trying to help every person who reaches out to her and her team. With a carefully built network today, she has also managed to deliver medicines and the necessary items to people’s doorsteps or hospital beds, which otherwise sadly seemed like a rich man’s fortune, given the state of affairs. Emotionally attached to the cause, from the time her mother tested positive for the virus, the last few weeks have seen Bhumi actively trying to reach out to more citizens and helping them in their time of need. Covid Warrior today stands as a network of several hundred individuals who are working each minute to save as many lives as they could, in what could be called a country left in shambles. It’s an initiative by the people, for the people to initiate accurate information, helping people with oxygen beds, plasma donors, ICU booking and emergency medicines.

Honestly, kindness always called out to me and Bhumi has been exceptionally kind and warm to me, forever. While many can contest that she ‘needs’ to be that way with me, people who know her even a bit will understand it comes from a place of genuinity. Today when I look at actors like Bhumi, Taapsee and others from my generation turning Covid warriors and reaching out to the common man, while living the common Girl’s Dream, it makes me super proud to even be able to say that I belong to a generation that saw these powerful actors…and more importantly such humane artists! More power to you Bhumi. Keep doing what you have been. Many might overlook the emotional turmoil that surrounds you almost half of the time during the day, there is also a majority that can see through the heart and toil that goes behind saving the thousands of lives you and your team have saved already.