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365 days to COVID-19 lockdown: Kartik Aaryan's Koki Poochega to Akshay Kumar's Dil Se Thank You, a lookback at how Bollywood celebs kept fans engaged for months

March 24, 2020. This date changed every the lives of citizens of India. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, announced a complete lockdown due to the rapid and alarming spread of COVID-19 or Coronavirus, which was first found in China in 2019. Malls were shut, theatres were sealed and people confined to their homes thought it wasn't really a matter of worry. But what followed next was unimaginable. People were stuck at home for months together as the COVID-19 graph saw dramatic inclinations daily and work from home became a normal thing. 

It's been 365 days since the start of the nationwide lockdown that left many people jobless, brought daily wage workers on the streets and disrupted the entire Indian economy. On this occasion, PeepingMoon takes a trip down memory lane to look back at how Bollywood celebrities used their social media to keep our and their spirits high. From social awareness initiatives to starting YouTube channels and penning poems, B-Towners knew how to entertain their fans. 

Initiatives/ Series

From raising awareness to spreading cheers, Bollywood celebrities used their voices for the right cause. Take a look:

Family

Celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Diljit Dosanjh, Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Chiranjeevi, Shiva Rajkumar, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Sonalee Kulkarni came together for a unique short film titled Family. Watch it here if you missed it out!

Lockdown With The Johars

Let's admit, Karan Johar and his children-Yash and Roohi brought a smile to our faces with their brutally honest and fun series titled Lockdown With The Johars. From roasting their father to fat-shaming him, commenting on his wardrobe and much more, Yash and Roohi were a delight. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar)

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar)

Deepika Padukone's mental health initiative

During the lockdown, Deepika Padukone joined hands with Instagram for an initiative titled Wellness Guide. It aimed to keep people inspired during the tough times and helped them with recommendations, tips etc. Deepika curated the guide along with her organisation, The Live Laugh Love Foundation.

Kartik Aaryan's Koki Poochega

Kartik Aaryan started his own chat show titled Koki Poochega during the lockdown. The actor, who is known as Koki at home, aimed at spreading awareness about the virus and other issues by interviewing COVID-19 warriors including doctors, policemen, social workers and people who have defeated the virus. The chat show was lauded by Ekta Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and several other Bollywood celebrities.

I For India

On May 3, 2020, celebrities across the globe united for a virtual concert titled I For India. A fundraiser concert, I For India was streamed on Facebook and featured performances and personal messages from 85+ Indian and global stars. Indian actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh and others participated. 

Lockdown On Domestic Violence

Amid the lockdown, cases of domestic violence were on a rise. Taking this into consideration, Bollywood celebrities like Karan Johar, Madhuri Dixit, Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli, Vidya Balan and others came together to express concern over the global surge in cases of domestic violence. They extended support to the initiative titled Lockdown On Domestic Violence. 

5 Baje, 5 Minute & 9 Baje, 9 Minute

On March 22, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the first Janta Curfew. He requested the citizens of India to stand in their balconies and cheer for the COVID-19 warriors for their efforts. He asked everyone to either clap, blow a conch shell or use utensils to make noise at 5 pm for 5 minutes. Celebrities came out in full support and shared videos on social media. 

Again, on April 5, 2020, the PM asked people to either light a candle, diya or flash a torchlight in their balconies. Extending support to this initiative, Bollywood showed up in large numbers. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar)

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar)

 Dil Se Thank You

Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Ayushmann Khurrana, Shahid Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar, Raveena Tandon, Ekta Kapoor and other Bollywood celebrities stepped forward to thank the Mumbai police for their dedication and efforts to keep the city protected amid the lockdown. They expressed gratitude using the hashtag Dil Se Thank You.

Akshay Kumar and R Balki's ad campaign

Akshay Kumar and R Balki teamed up for a special ad campaign for the Government of India to raise awareness about the post lockdown responsibilities for every individual. The ad highlighted that one shouldn't be afraid of COVID-19 and should take necessary care while stepping out. 

Sonu Sood's Ghar Bhejo

Reel-life villain Sonu Sood became the real-life hero during the lockdown. The actor not just sent migrants back home but did a lot for those in need. From elderly citizens to children, Sonu was there for all. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sonu Sood (@sonu_sood)

Salman Khan's Being Haangryy initiative

During the lockdown, Salman Khan, who was at his Panvel farmhouse, started his own food truck to supply meals to the underprivileged. The food truck was originally designed for his upcoming film Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai.  Reportedly, every day around 1000 ration packets were prepared in a Bandra restaurant named Bhaijaan. 500 packets in the morning and 500 packets in the evening were distributed in the slums, railway stations, hospitals and other areas of Mumbai. 

Songs

Siddhant Chaturvedi- Dhoop & Agar ye duniya khul gayi toh?

 

Salman Khan- Pyaar Karona 

Phir Jagmagayega Hindustan ft. Hina Khan, Nakuul Mehta and others

Muskurayega India ft. Akshay Kumar, Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Vicky Kaushal and others

Channels

Veteran playback singer Asha Bhosle launched her own YouTube channel on May 13, 2020. In a statement, she said, "Over the years, I've been asked by many people to pen down my thoughts, experiences and emotions but I just didn't have the time. Now, that I am at home, I decided to record my experiences of 86 years and maybe some of them may entertain people, make them think or just have a good time and a laugh."

On April 20, 2020, Salman Khan also started his own YouTube channel to connect with his fans. He released three songs- Pyaar Karona, Tere Bina and Bhai Bhai. "Finally hamara YouTube channel shuru ho gaya hai, jaiye aur mera naya gaana dekhen aur enjoy karein," he tweeted with the link of Pyaar Karona.

In April last year, Zareen Khan followed the same footsteps. In a statement, the actress said, "My YouTube channel will be all me - it won't just showcase my life as an actress but also emphasize on other aspects of my life. This is who I'm in real. This is just a chance for me to connect with my fans and for my fans to know who Zareen really is, as a person."

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