'Helping people far more satisfying than being part of Rs 1000-crore film': Sonu Sood

Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood said that bringing positive change in people's lives gives him “much more satisfaction” than being a part of any Rs 1,000 crore film.

Sood, who helped thousands of migrant workers return home after the outbreak of COVID-19, said on the concluding day of the Bodoland Knowledge Festival here on Thursday that the pandemic has changed his approach to life. “I have worked on around 100 films in different languages – Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Chinese, and English. The movies were a hit… I was successful, but when COVID-19 hit, I got a chance to connect with the common people.

“They were people I didn't know, had never met before, and probably never will. It was only when I was able to consciously or unconsciously bring some joy into their lives and received blessings in return that I realized what success looks and feels like,” he underlined.

The actor booked charter flights and buses for stranded migrant workers who did not have the means to return home when the first lockdown was announced in 2020. He also arranged a flight to bring home students from Kyrgyzstan to India.

Sood said he has been working in films for the past 18 to 20 years, but “trust me, you can be a part of a film for Rs 500 crore or Rs 1,000 crore, but that success will not bring you the same amount of happiness that you will experience when you bring about positive changes in a person's life”.

Sood said his relationship with Assam is not new. “When the pandemic started, I got tweets from many people from the Northeast who were stuck in the middle of heavy rain in Mumbai. The first charter flight I booked was for Orissa and the second was for Assam. “A lot of people have texted me saying they'll be back with me later. Some of them do… a few of them are working with me now and some have become my friends,” he added.

The actor also urged the youth of Bodoland to work together for the development of the region.