Indian actor honored with livery on Boeing 737 : Acknowledging Indian actor, producer Sonu Sood’s humanitarian efforts in helping lakhs of migrant workers who were stranded during the pandemic, SpiceJet has dedicated an aircraft Boeing 737, livery bearing his face in his honor. He is the first Indian actor to make it to the livery of a domestic airline. The livery includes a picture of Sood with the text “A salute to the saviour Sonu Sood”. “The phenomenally-talented Sonu Sood has been a messiah to lakhs of Indians during the pandemic, helping them reunite with their loved ones, feed their families and more,” SpiceJet said in a statement.

The phenomenally-talented @SonuSood has been a messiah to lakhs of Indians during the pandemic, helping them reunite with their loved ones, feed their families and more. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/8wYUml4tdD

— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) March 19, 2021

The airline said that while there is no apt way to thank him for his immense efforts, this was a small gesture from SpiceJet to acknowledge him and his amazing contributions. “Introducing our one-of-its-kind Sonu Sood livery draped on Mustard, one of our lovely Boeing 737 aircraft,” SpiceJet said while adding, “Thank you for everything, Sonu! You are an inspiration to us and many others, and we are proud to be your partners in your deeds of extraordinary compassion.”

The actor moved by the plight of 350 workers in Mumbai who requested him to provide food for 10 days because they wanted go home by walking for hundreds of miles. He approached the authorities and took permissions and arranged transport for this group. Realizing that there are millions who are stuck across the country,  He started connecting with others to help stranded migrant workers, working in big cities get home to their villages and towns after the government ordered a nationwide lockdown due to the pandemic.

Toll free No assistance 

He formed a toll-free number and within an hour he and his team received one lakh calls. In a few days they helped over 7.26 lakh people to reach their home. He mortgaged his own property in Mumbai to raise Rs.10 crore to help. He also started receiving calls from students stuck in abroad. Over Fourteen and half thousand students were evacuated from countries like Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Russia and Philippines.

After going back to home, the migrant workers and others contacted him and requested for jobs. He recalled that 50 lakh applicants for jobs were received in two and half days. He, alongside with other good people, provided employment to two lakh people. Sood wrote about his life and experiences in his memoir I Am No Messiah, which was published in late 2020.