Akshay requests people to donate for martyred soldiers

Akshay was present at the Teen Murti Bhawan in Delhi on Saturday morning for the launch of an anthem for the Bharat Ke Veer website - an initiative that allows people to transfer money directly into the bank accounts of the next of kin of martyred Indian soldiers.

At the launch, presided by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, actor Akshay Kumar and the singer of the anthem Kailash Kher, Rajnath Singh urged the audience, which included many eminent personalities, to donate.

Akshay then went up on stage and surprised everyone by saying, "Let us start now". "I am willing to dance, sing, do anything that you'd like me to, but let us collect the maximum for the welfare of the families of those who sacrificed their lives for us," Soon enough, several corporate honchos raised a hand and announcing their donations. Within minutes, Rs 12.93 crores was pledged to Bharat Ke Veer.

Akshay said, "It was impromptu, and I am so touched by the response. I just feel there is no greater cause than working for the welfare of the families of our brave soldiers. I am glad we could raise this amount."