Kannada actors have jumped into the fray to help flood victims of Kodagu. While industry bodies such as Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) and Karnataka Film Artistes’ Association (KFAA) are yet to make any plans, actors have pitched in on their own.
Shivarajkumar, Puneet Rajkumar, Darshan, Sudeep, Ganesh, Yash, Neenasam Satish, Shruthi Hariharan, and others have appealed to their fans’ associations to extend help to people. Harshika Poonacha and Bhuvan are in Kodagu distributing relief materials. Harshika’s house has provided shelter to some people. Harshika, who is camping in Kodagu, told The Hindu: “I have not seen suffering of this kind in Kodagu before.”
Shivarajkumar posted a video on social media appealing to his fans to help. He personally contributed over ₹10 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund on Monday. Following the appeal, fans of stars have started transporting medicine, ready-to-eat food, and clothes to flood-hit areas. His father and Kannada film icon Dr. Rajkumar had set a precedent during the 1961 floods by touring the State to collect funds to help flood-affected people and support them in rebuilding their lives.
Meanwhile, KFAA is thinking of joining hands and collecting funds. “We are thinking of a mode of support to be extended to the flood-affected people, as presently actors on their own are doing something. A decision will be taken at the earliest,” said Rockline Venkatesh, general secretary, KFAA.