Filmmaker Aditya Chopra has launched the Yash Chopra Saathi initiative to provide financial aid to thousands of daily-wage workers from the beleaguered Hindi film industry.
A statement issued by the production house read, “The foundation will initiate a direct benefit transfer of Rs5,000 to the women and senior citizens of the industry as well as distribute ration kits to workers for a family of four for an entire month through their NGO partners Youth Feed India. Through an online application process at https://yashchoprafoundation.org, those in need can apply immediately to avail this support from YRF (sic).”
Akshaye Widhani, senior vice-president at Yash Raj Films, said, “The Yash Chopra Foundation is committed to constantly and relentlessly be a support system for the Hindi film industry and its workers who have been an integral part of our 50-year journey. The pandemic has pushed the backbone of our industry, the daily workers, to breaking point and YRF wants to support as many workers and their families who are in need due to loss of livelihood.”
Earlier in the week, Chopra took the initiative of covering the cost of 30,000 COVID-19 vaccines for film industry personnel. He wrote to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray offering to purchase 60,000 doses of vaccines.