On social media, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari announced the felicitation of Covid Warriors at a function organized by the Bhamla Foundation at Raj Bhavan. Present at the do at the Raj Bhawan were Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, playback singers Shaan, Palak Muchchal, and Bollywood actor Ali Fazal, along with Bhamla Foundation Chairman Asif Bhamla. Through the last 8 months, the foundation along with celebrities and influencers have worked tirelessly to ensure that the crisis is dealt with effectively.

Ali, who returned from the El Gouna festival in Egypt, was elated to be present at the function where the Covid warriors (on ground healthcare workers) were felicitated.

He said, “It has been a rather nostalgic event, to begin with. I had the honor to go back to the Raj Bhavan after years. This institution holds great value to me for personal reasons.  But credit where it’s due, the Bhamla foundation has done wonders during these tough times. There have been others too who have relentlessly worked to help the needy. It’s been a fight for and by the common man. And we, few people standing, are made of the same working-class blood. So it was indeed a proud moment to see such eminent personalities (especially the health sector) or rather warriors felicitate each other. People who will eventually bring us out into the new world, safe and sound. We are all birds of the same feather. And I truly hope we restore humanity into our lives and societies very soon. Aagey bohot kaam hai. My respect to all the doctors and the police personnel across Maharashtra who have relentlessly worked despite the personal dangers of this pandemic.”

The actor recently released the second season of Mirzapur and is awaiting the release of Death on the Nile. He is expected to kick off the shoot of his next Hollywood project Codename Johnny Walker soon.

CINTAA’s Senior Vice President, actor Manoj Joshi met with the Honorable Governor of Maharashtra Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari today. They discussed the issue of senior actors, above the age of 65, not being allowed to shoot. The Honorable Governor assured of necessary co-operation. The meeting was a dual purpose meeting, reveals Manoj Joshi. The Honourable Governor who has witnessed the freedom struggle wrote an essay on Mahatma Gandhi, participating in the competition organised by the Postal Department as a common man. When he won the competition, he added three times the amount to the prize money and gifted the same to the post office employees for protection against COVID19.

“I had been to his place to congratulate him on this amazing  gesture as well as honour him with a shawl along with State BJP Secretary and  Vice-Chairman, of Maharashtra Film, Stage & Cultural Development Corporation Ltd (MFSCDCL) Amarjeet  Mishra who presented The Hon Governor with an idol of Vithoba and Rukmini.”

Manoj Joshi then briefed the Hon Governor on CINTAA, its history, its members, on the senior citizens who are members of CINTAA on whom their family depends for livelihood, and that they already have had no work from three months. He elaborated that the number of working seniors was not very large, but apart from that, there are continuity issues and producers can not replace them. “The Hon Governor gave us a patient ear. It was a good 40 minute meeting. He was very positive and assured that he would help us in the best way possible. He had received the letter from CINTAA that we had sent  him,” elaborates Joshi.

CINTAA had also sent letters to the Hon CM Uddhav Thackeray,  Hon Minister Subash Desai and Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis besides the Hon Governor. “We are glad the meeting with the Hon Governor  was an eventful one and are hopeful that the outcome would be a positive one. The meeting was indeed reassuring.”