Source: Mid Day
Date: Apr 18, 2020
By: Upala KBR
Paparazzi have a reason to smile as Hrithik Roshan, Rohit Shetty transfer money to their accounts to help them tide over the dry spell.
Whether they step out from the gyms, the airport or their posh Juhu residences, stars are always greeted by the paparazzi, who wait devotedly on the sidelines for that one perfect shot. If the paparazzi culture has grown steadily in India over the years, it has also given birth to a love-hate relationship between the ones in front of the camera and those behind it. Expectedly then, in the face of the current crisis, Bollywood stars have not forgotten their favourite photographers. Hrithik Roshan and filmmaker Rohit Shetty have led the way by offering financial assistance to several entertainment photographers to tide over the current dry spell.
Yogen Shah, who runs an entertainment photo syndicate, employs a team of 10 stringers. He is grateful for the help that the stars have extended in a time of need. ""I had paid their salaries for March [but was unsure of the way ahead]. Then, I got calls from Rohit Shetty's production house and Hrithik sir's team, offering help. Hrithik sir asked whether he should give me a lump sum to be distributed among my boys, or send the money directly to their accounts. I told him to do the latter as my team should know that the funds have come from him."
While like other support functionaries of the entertainment industry, freelance photographers have seen their income dry up due to the lockdown, photographer Viral Bhayani points out that they face another disadvantage. ""We are not part of a cine body or association that can help us out in a time of crisis. I work with a team [of about 15 photographers], so the salaries run into lakhs. I was worried about how I would manage their April salaries. Now, other celebrities have also inquired if my team members need funds or ration."" Manav Manglani, who supervises a team of over 10 assistant lensmen, adds, ""It was a wonderful gesture by Hrithik and Rohit. I have asked my team members to send a part of the amount to their families back home.""
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Source: Hindustan Times
Date: Apr 17, 2020
Photographer Viral Bhayani has revealed that Hrithik Roshan has also offered help for paparazzi who hail from lower middle class as they do not come under any film union or association.Amid the coronavirus pandemic, celebs are doing their best to help those in need. Apart from pledging support to daily wage workers in the industry, they are now helping out-of-work paparazzi during lockdown.
After filmmaker Rohit Shetty, actor Hrithik Roshan has donated money to help paparazzi as they do not come under any film association or trade union.Photographer Viral Bhayani wrote on Instagram, “In such dire straits, actor Hrithik Roshan on his own, came forward and supported the paps who hail from lower middle class families. I’m really grateful to Hrithik for helping us in our crisis time.
Many other actors have come forward and supported the film industry, but since we do not belong to any film association or trade union - we could not get the benefit which many other leading actors have come forward and announced. #hrithikroshan.” While Dia Mirza dropped a heart on the post, Tisca Chopra called Hrithik’s gesture “superb”. Recently, it came to light that Hrithik has now contributed Rs 25 lakh to the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) to help the 4,000 daily-wage artists who come under its purview.
Hrithik is also helping facilitate 1.2 lakh nutritious meals for those who have been severely impacted due to the government imposed lockdown amid Covid-19 pandemic. The Super 30 actor has empowered the NGO Akshaya Patra, which is working on the ground to ensure old age homes, daily wage labourers, and low-income groups across India get nutritious cooked meals in these tough times.Viral had recently revealed that filmmaker Rohit had sent funds for paparazzi. The filmmaker has also donated Rs 51 lakh to Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), to help daily wage film workers who have been left without jobs since the lockdown.