After PM Modi urged people to observe ‘janta curfew’ on Sunday, celebrities have come out on social media supporting the move. On various social media platforms, actors and actresses have requested people to stay indoors and opt for social distancing to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
After Modi addressed the nation on Thursday, his speech was hailed by many celebrities including Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, Ayushmann Khurrana, Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty and Varun Dhawan.
In a video posted on Instagram, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan appealed for people to be careful for the next 10-15 days and avoid public spaces. “To fight this crisis the government and the citizens have to put up a strong joint fight. So I appeal again, please do not panic, he said.
Let’s get together and fight this #WarAgainstVirus.
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) March 20, 2020
@CMOMaharashtra @AUThackeray pic.twitter.com/kAnBEzMDKU
Actress Shabana Azmi said the move was not 'nonsense' and called it a masterstroke to unite Indians, and urged people to heed to janta curfew.
Actor Shahid Kapoor said that the virus has been affecting our heads at a faster rate than our bodies. "22nd of March #JantaCurfew . This virus is affecting our heads at a faster rate than our bodies. Let’s show solidarity as a nation. Let's be at our most positive and our most restrained. Let’s raise the bar. This moment in time calls for it,” he said.
Amitabh Bachchan took to Instagram to acknowledge that he will abide with janta curfew and ‘clap, ring bells’ at 5 pm to honour those are continuing to work to provide us with essential services.
T 3477 - कल सारा देश #JanataCurfew में रहेगा ! मैं इसे मान्यता दूँगा , और कल 22 March , 5 pm अपने खिड़की, दरवाज़े, बाल्कनी, छत पर खड़ा होकर, ताली, घंटी, शंख बजा कर उन सब का सम्मान करूँगा जो निस्वार्थ , कठिन परिस्थितियों में भी महत्वपूर्ण सेवायों को पूरा करने में कार्यरत हैं । pic.twitter.com/BPIOdCsNCY
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) March 21, 2020
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan also expressed solidarity with PM Modi’s janta curfew and said that extraordinary situation requires extraordinary measures. He urged people to stay united and indoors.
Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu tweeted: “Urging all citizens to support the clarion call of our honourable PM @narendramodi and take part in the #JanataCurfew this Sunday to fight the #Coronavirus.”
Urging all citizens to support the clarion call of our honourable PM @narendramodi and take part in the #JanataCurfew this Sunday to fight the #Coronavirus.
— Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) March 20, 2020
Telugu superstars Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna Akkineni also pleaded with people to stay in and practise social distancing. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal also appreciated Modi’s initiative and requested everyone to adhere to the curfew.
Novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 258 on Saturday after 35 fresh cases were reported in various parts of the country, according to the Health Ministry.
Among the 258 are 39 foreign nationals, including 17 from Italy, three from the Philippines, two from the UK, one each belonging to Canada, Indonesia and Singapore. The total figure also includes four deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra.
