Shagufta Ali To Savita Bajaj! 11 TV Stars Who Needed Financial Help During COVID 19

The last two years that the world has experienced is unpredictable, heartbreaking and shocking. COVID 19 showed us that nothing is stable or to be taken for granted. The virus that is still hovering over our heads is only multiplying.

Just like many industries, cinema and glamour industry has also taken a massive hit. With cinema halls shut, TV shootings stalled for more than a year, actors and actresses are using their savings but many have even exhausted that.

During this tough time, many TV stars came forward asking for financial assistance. Here's taking a look at 11 such celebrities who are seeking help during the crises.

1. Anaya Soni

screengrab

The actress best known for roles in Crime Patrol and Adaalat recently revealed she is looking for financial help. The actress is facing a tough time right now in finding a donor s only 2 percent of her kidney is functional. She is currently admitted in Mumbai's hospital. In an interview with ETimes, Anaya Soni said, "I have been living on one kidney since 2015. My both kidneys had failed 6 years ago and my father donated a kidney to me. Suddenly, the donated kidney has deteriorated and I need a fresh kidney transplant. I never dreamt of such a situation when I was doing shows like Naamkarann and Crime Patrol."

She said her family is going through a massive financial crunch. "My mom had a garments business. My brother was doing well. Her clothes and his machines got all burnt some time ago, when my house caught fire. Sab kuch khatam ho gaya (everything is destroyed). We are just hand-to-mouth now," she said. Anaya also revealed that her family is looking for a donor.

2. Shagufta Ali

Twitter

You remember her from Sasural Simar Ka and many other shows and even films. Shagufta Ali recently opened up about her struggle to find work in the industry. During her appearance at Dance Deewane, Shagufta said, "The last 32 years among the 36 years have been wonderful. I struggled a lot, worked a great deal too, supported my family and myself. But four years ago, several auditions took place, a lot of things happened but nothing was working out. During that time, the problem with my leg increased because of diabetes, which also affected my eyes. I don't know why but I couldn't tolerate the pain of these four years. The industry is my home, I have given 36 years to it."

3. Nupur Alankar

screengrab

TV actor Nupur Alankar, who has been a part of shows such as Swaragini and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?...Ek Baar Phir, is reportedly facing financial distress as all her money is stuck in the scam-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank. On behalf of her, actor Renuka Shahanee made a plea for monetary help sharing her bank details and urging everyone to donate. In a Facebook post, she wrote, ¡°A very dear actress friend of mine, Nupur Alankar has been facing a lot of financial problems due to all her money unfortunately being stuck in the PMC bank which crashed leaving their customers in the lurch.¡±

4. Aditya Narayan

screengrab

Even a star like Aditya Narayan faced massive financial crisis during this period. Way before he got married, he revealed to an entertainment portal, ¡°My whole savings are depleted. I¡¯ve literally finished my savings. All the money I had invested in Mutual Funds, I had to withdraw all of that (to survive). Because nobody had planned that I wouldn¡¯t be working for a year and yet chilling it out. Nobody plans it like that. Unless you¡¯re like some billionaire. So there is no choice. Like I¡¯ve Rs 18,000 left in my account. So if I don¡¯t start working by October, I would have no money. I would have to sell off my bike or something. It¡¯s really tough."

5. Ram Vriksha Gaur

screengrab

This director has made the highest rated show. Balika Vadhu director Ram Gaur was spotted selling vegetables. ¡°I had come to Azamgarh for the recce of a film. We were here when the lockdown was announced and then it was not possible to return. The project we were working on was stopped and the producer said it would take another year or more to get back to work. I then decided to take to my father¡¯s business and started selling vegetables on a handcart. I am familiar with the business and have no regrets. I have my own house in Mumbai and I am confident that I will return one day. Till then, I am here doing what I can,¡± he told IANS.

6. Rajesh Kareer

screengrab

In his Facebook video last year, actor Rajesh Kareer said that he's requesting for financial help so that he can return to his hometown in Punjab: "Baat yeh hai ki... agar sharam karunga toh yeh zindagi bahut bhaari padhne waali hai. Bas itni hi guzaarish karna chahta hun aap logon se ki mujhe madad ki bahut sakht zarurat hai. Halaat bahut hi nazuk bane hue hai humare (If I feel ashamed right now, then life is going to be very hard for me. I desperately need help. I am in a very critical situation)." Actress Shivangi Joshi helped out with a sum of ?10,000, Rajesh Kareer said: "I am really happy with her gesture. We were not so close to each other on the set but despite that she came ahead to help me in this crisis, it means a lot." Rajesh Kareer, who shared his bank account details in a Facebook post on May 31, added: "Not just Shivangi but many have contacted me since yesterday and transferred some amount in my account."

7. Zaan Khan

Twitter

The TV actor has been going through his set of struggle too during COVID 19. Zaan Khan who plays the lead role in Humari Bahu Silk has opened up his unpaid dues. 'Have to sell my two cars,' the actor said in an interview. While talking to ETimes, Zaan said, "I have sold all that I could, including one of the two cars I have; I spent all my savings during the lockdown." He further shared he even helped the other unit members through his savings. Further, the actor shared that he does not even have money to pay his house rent and now worries that he had to go back to his hometown Bhopal.

8. Ayub Khan

screengrab

The actor featured in a top show of Colors Uttaran which made many overnight stars. One of them was actor Ayub Khan who has featured in many movies as well. During an interview with Times Now Digital, the actor said, "We and people are going through difficult times, but god forbid there is not going to be lockdown. If god forbid I have to sit back for another year and a half or whatever then I will definitely have a big problem on my hand. We are not spending too much as we have to be careful about it. If there will be a lockdown for a year it will be a disastrous situation".

9. Satish Kaul

screengrab

Mahabharat actor Satish Kaul is best remembered as Lord Indra from BR Chopra¡¯s mythological show. But lockdown made things extremely difficult for the most popular stars. Speaking about his financial crunch, Satish Kaul said,"I'm struggling for medicines, groceries and basic needs. I appeal to the industry people to help me. I got so much love as an actor, I need some attention now as a human in need," The actor, who has also worked in Aunty No. 1, says, ¡°It's ok if they've forgotten me. I got so much love and I'm grateful. I will forever be indebted to the audience for that. Right now, I wish I am able to buy a decent place of my own where I can stay.¡±

10. Nishi Singh

screengrab

Nishi Singh suffered a paralytic attack last year in February following which she couldn't get back to work and was only confined to her home. This year, she suffered another attack.

11. Savita Bajaj

Screengrab

The Nadiya Ke Paar actress Savita Bajaj tested positive for Covid-19 and had to be hospitalised for 22 days. After discharge, she had trouble breathing for which she was immediately admitted and put on oxygen support.

In an earlier interview with ETimes, Savita had shared how there are no facilities for senior artistes who face age-related health issues. She said, ¡°I want someone to build an old age home for actors like me who are on their own. I don¡¯t have my own home in Mumbai even after working for so many years. I live on rent in a one-room kitchen in Malad. I pay Rs 7,000 as rent. I didn¡¯t want to ask for money, but it¡¯s going to be difficult for me to manage now.¡±