IN FOCUS

Sonu Sood “ When people sometimes say… my work for the migrants is for some political reason,

I totally ignore them. ”

In an honest heart-to-heart chat

with Sumita Chakraborty, Sonu

Sood, who is being hailed as the

‘messiah of migrants’, reveals why he went out of the way for the migrants, the inspiration behind his social endeavours, films and more.

I’ve known Sonu Sood for long and all these years, I’ve seen him doing numerous humanitarian work – whether it was generating awareness for acid victims or helping the truly needy. He has always been humble, understated and a little shy of talking about his numerous social endeavours. But today, thanks to “corona” and the ongoing migrant problems… the spotlight has finally shown his “real” side. Sonu at the risk of his own life, was the only Bollywood hero who jumped into the fray to help the migrants reach home safe and sound. He dipped into his own pockets to sponsor their travel across India to their homes through road, rail or air. Not a single tweet from the migrants went unanswered by him. In fact, he even acted as an arbiter in a migrant’s troubled marriage or wiped the tears of a distraught soul. No wonder today, Sonu Sood is being called the “real hero” of Bollywood. In a candid conversation, Sonu reveals his innermost turmoil’s, thoughts and more. Read on…

I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the smiles on their (migrant’s) faces who wanted to be reunited with their families.

Sonu, we’ve seen you do such wonderful work by helping the migrants go home. You’ve worked tirelessly for them earning accolades from people like Barkha Dutt and the entire nation. While people are running scared, what made you decide to do this without fearing for your life?

The daily routine of sending the migrants back home is still on. Maybe the load has lessened as I have already sent almost 90,000 migrants back home all across India – from Jammu Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Orissa, Assam, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand to so many other places. It’s the most satisfying experience ever and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the smiles on their faces who wanted to be reunited with their families. So it was really special.

Bigger films will have to wait a bit but I’m hoping things will normalise by September-October.

You have faced criticism too. In fact, some people have insinuated that you were doing this for political reasons. What is your take on this?

When people sometimes say, it’s for some political reason, I totally ignore them. I haven’t read the articles they have written because my reason to help the migrants was because somebody needed to come forward and tell them how important it is to have faith in God and to believe someone is there to help you. I truly believe that is the reason I came to Mumbai years back. The Government has done its job very well but I think there was some kind of lag that has happened. I wish we could have done much more for the migrants. I wish the inter state buses should have started when the migrants were walking back. I wish a little we could have saved more lives.

Aren’t you scared of the virus? What about your family?

I don’t get much rest. I am with the migrants for 10-12 hours and yes, even I fear the virus because I have a family and I come back home every day. I keep sanitising my hands. I don’t touch anything from outside. Yes, my family too is very worried about me and I keep promising them I wont go the next day but I break my promise and go back. There are many heart-breaking stories. People have lost their families – lost their father and they couldn’t go for the last rites. People were stuck in Australia – I got them from there too. Pregnant women were stuck on the roads… and I made sure they reached home safely. A special gift was that one of the pregnant ladies named her son ‘Sonu Sood’ after me. That was very touching and a great recognition. And if the migrants want to come back, I will be there for them and of course, I will help them come back. I have always done social work as it is my duty but the pandemic made me come out in the open. It’s not about recognition.

When will Bollywood start?

I think shootings will start in August. People are starting smaller films. Bigger films will have to wait a bit but I’m hoping things will normalise by September October. People will have to learn to live with corona until the vaccine is out. We must take proper precautions. In shoots, you tend to have crowds…. This has to be mon- itored and proper social distancing needs to be taken.

What lesson have you learnt from the lockdown?

Well that no matter how busy you are, there is something called giving back to the society. You must come forward to help the needy no matter how rich or poor you are. Also, that it is important to spend time with your families. This lockdown is a great learning curve which teaches you the importance of family.

What is the next project in the pipe- line – I believe its one with Amitabh Bachchan, can you tell us about this project?

No there is no project with Mr Bach- chan sir. Koi film nahin hain at the moment though I’d love to work with him. I have worked with him in one film but fingers crossed, I hope some more are in the pipeline.

What has been the driving force behind your career choices?

My inspiring force has always been my parents. My mother and father have always told me that no matter what happens, stay focussed. And that has kept me going on during my difficult times. Now my family – my wife and kids who always support me. Im really thankful to God who has given me such a beautiful family who always support me no matter what.

All the paperwork is completed on PV Sindhu and we were going to start but the lockdown happened.

I’m restructuring my life and want my second innings to be different.

I have some incredibly good offers coming from the OTT segment too.

You have had your share of hits and duds. How do you cope with failure?

I have seen my share of failures and success but I think failures teach you how to be stronger in life. So films come and go… they become successful… some times they don’t… it shouldn’t matter. You just have to work harder in life and move on to the next. This is what I’ve been doing all these years and this is how I have survived.

You had announced about making a biopic on PV Sindhu sometime back. What is the status of it?

All the paper work is completed on PV Sindhu and we were going to start but the lockdown happened. Once it ends, we will announce something big.

What about the OTT field?

I have some incredibly good offers coming from the OTT segment too. I just have to decide which one should be my debut in it. I’m sure something very special is on its way, so keeping my fingers crossed. OTT is an important phase and I’m sure it will be a parallel platform in coming times.

What’s next for Sonu Sood?

I have my film Prithviraj coming up. Also, I have a film with Chiranjeevi sir and another Telugu film. Of course, there are other Hindi films too. Yes, I’m getting many hero roles. This is going to be my new innings. I’m restructuring my life and want my second innings to be different. I want to do what people want me to do. Today, the lockdown has taught us to do what we dream of and no matter what the problem is we need to gear up and face it. It has also taught us to help others. For instance, if we have a single kitchen if an extra meal is cooked there, nobody will go hungry in our country.

We need genuine good people who care about the needy to join politics… as you did. Would you consider a career in politics?

(Ha Ha) Maybe, someday!