Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar put together a musical fundraiser - ‘I for India’ to help the COVID-19 frontline workers

By Bollywood Reporter

on May 01, 2020

Filmmakers Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar have put together a home-to-home fundraiser concert, I For India. A grand finale Concert and Fundraiser to Facebook Social for Good Live-athon; with 85+ top Indian and global stars, to raise funds for GiveIndia Covid-19 relief fund. 100% proceeds from the fundraiser concert will go to the India COVID Response Fund managed by GiveIndia, to support on-ground relief efforts. Featuring some of Bollywood’s biggest names, the concert will serve as India’s largest giving platform with reach across 23 states, associated with over 100 NGOs, working on-ground to support the healthcare, infrastructure, livelihood support and essentials for people in need.

The actors performing in the event include Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas, Sophie Tunrer and Joe Jonas. Singer and composers like AR Rahman, Arijit Singh, Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjianii, Pritam, Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal and Shankar Mahadevan-Ehsaan Noorani-Loy Mendonsa, among others, will perform their hit songs. India cricketers Virat Kohli and Roshit Sharma will also be part of the fundraiser concert among many others.

The vision for the concert by leaders from the entertainment industry is three-pronged: to entertain those locked down in their homes, to pay tribute to those who are working on the frontlines, and to raise funds for those who have no work and no home and do not know where their next meal is coming from. The four-hour long concert will be live globally on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Facebookindiapp) on Sunday, 3rd May 2020 at 7:30pm IST and will feature performances and personal messages from 85+ Indian and global stars.

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Two weeks ago, we started work on India’s biggest concert. To entertain people who are locked-down at home. To pay tribute to those who work on the frontlines while we work from home. And to raise funds for those who have no work and no home. And when we were just days away from the concert, we lost two of our leading lights: #IrrfanKhan and #RishiKapoor. A stark reminder that life is fleeting. We must play our part. And keep the show going. So with a prayer in our hearts and a song on our lips, we bring you #IFORINDIA the concert for our times. 3rd May, 7:30pm IST. Watch it LIVE worldwide on Facebook. 100% of proceeds go to the India COVID Response Fund set up by @give_india Tune in. Donate now. Do your bit. Link in bio. #SocialForGood

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) on May 1, 2020 at 4:46am PDT

Here’s a preview of just some key voices from the concert:

Priyanka Chopra

“Unexpected, uncontrolled, unparalleled. The coronavirus has forged a brutal path across the world, and in the line of fire is well - you me and pretty much everyone across the world. Lockdowns, quarantines, social distancing - yeh hain humara naya normal. Khud ko surakshit rakhne ke liye hume ek dusre se dur rehna pad raha hai. Phir bhi mann hi mann main hum ek saath hain, as always.”

Anushka Sharma

'While we may be social distancing, and that’s the requirement, I don’t think we’ve ever been more connected. People helping each other, spreading awareness just so that we can protect each other and that is the victory of human spirit’

Rani Mukerji

‘Instances of child abuse have increased during the lockdown. I urge you all to stay more vigilant. If you see or hear anything suspicious or odd please report it to the authorities immediately. My daughter Adira calls this coronavirus an invisible monster lurking in the streets, she tells me, mamma, this monster will surely go away one day.’

Anoushka Shankar

“Humans have an incredible capacity for hope and resilience and finding new ways to help others who need more than we do. Every end is a new beginning"

Zoya Akhtar

“May we remember the lessons learnt and never forget we aren’t above nature, we’re just a small part of it.”

Shabana Azmi

“It’s time we realised how interdependent we are on each other. Irrespective of caste, class, gender, religion or country. It’s time for introspection. It’s time to shed our prejudices, it’s time to come together in kinship and harmony.”

Katrina Kaif

“There are 1000s of frontliners and emergency workers who are putting their lives on the line every day in the fight against COVID-19. Every rupee we collect today will help equip these heroes better thus protect them better. So please help keep safe those who keep us safe.”