Superstar Akshay Kumar's love for the Indian Armed Forces is well known. Last April on his suggestion, the Ministry of Home Affairs launched a website www.bharatkeveer.gov.in to enable donations to the families of martyred soldiers, who lost their lives in insurgency operations in J&K or naxalites hit areas. This website allows a direct fund transfer between a donor and the next of kin of the slain paramilitary personnel.

At a recent event Akshay Kumar made an impromptu appeal to the audience to help him in the initiative by pledging to adopt martyrs of at least one state. So fervent and heartfelt was his request that the audience comprising of CEOs of several companies picked up the cause immediately. In a matter of a few minutes, Rs.6.5 Cr was collected; thus, ensuring that more than 60% of those listed on the website would get their target amount of help.

It was not just the attendees at the event who came forward but also Akshay's friends and associates- while Akshay's close friend Vicky Oberoi chose Andhra Pradesh, his producer Prernaa Arora from Kriarj Entertainment chose Himachal Pradesh.

Says Prernaa Arora, Co-founder KriArj Entertainment, "We have learnt a lot from Akshay Sir not just in the field of films but also in the way he conducts himself in the larger context of social issues. Bharat Ke Veer is an extremely important initiative that he is supporting and in whatever way possible we would like to be a part of it. We have therefore taken on the responsibility of supporting the martyrs from Himachal Pradesh. I urge everyone to come forward and support this very noble cause."

One could not agree more with Prernaa and hope that more and more people join this drive.