By: Sima Malhotra

Amitabh Bachchan (Getty Images)

Amitabh Bachchan has been known for making significant contributions to Indian cinema with his acting talents, but now the famed Bollywood actor is helping those truly in need by launching a medicine-themed campaign while donating millions to non-profit organizations.

The Hindi film star was in Kochi to announce his contribution of about $2.3 million (Rs 11 Lakh) to the non-profit Resul Pookutty Foundation and unveiled the launch of the group’s Jeevarogya Medical Welfare campaign.

“There are very few amongst us who would have decided like Resul,” Bachchan told the press at the campaign launch over the weekend. “Not living in the glory of his great recognition, he had decided to convert what good he can do toward his own community and the people. I commend Resul’s efforts and desire to serve the people and reach beyond his professional world through a sound social initiative of this kind.”

Bachchan added the Foundation’s efforts are noble due to its efforts in relying upon the medical profession to assist those in grave need throughout India.

As part of the medical welfare campaign, the Resul Pookutty Foundation formed a partnership with the Kerala-based Lakshmi Hospital in an effort to provide free surgeries and other forms of medical aid and support to the poor and in-need living in the southern India state.

Bachchan said he was committed to helping the Foundation in its campaign, due to his privileged position, to attain medical services many others in India may never otherwise have access to because of living in poor conditions.

“I know there are many occasions in the past when I had the means to have myself treated outside the country, but I always respected and had good faith in the medical talent that is available now, and I had not ventured out overseas for the treatment,” Bachchan told reporters in Kochi.

“I had a natural attraction to everything that is medically concerned. Resul is a patriot and my colleague. I am very honored that Resul had decided to convert his great recognition toward social service.”

Resul Pookutty

An Oscar-winning musician and Padma Shri recipient, Pookutty said he long envisioned launching this medical welfare campaign through his foundation, as it was the best way he saw fit to give back to his country.

“From the time I won the Oscar, the gates have opened for me to stand up and serve the society in a larger way,” the award-winning artist told reporters. “Somewhere, all this is the manifestation of many of my dreams borne out of various personal experiences. The overwhelming warmth and love showered upon me across the world needed to be reciprocated in a relevant direction to bring to attention worthy issues around me.

“This was an earnest effort and a small beginning to that end.”

Pookutty, 38, is one of India’s most renowned film sound designers, editors and mixers, lending his services to Hollywood, Bollywood and Malayalam projects. He was awarded a Padma Shri earlier this month, almost a full year after winning an Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing in Slumdog Millionaire.

Among the other films Pookutty has worked with included Blue, Ghajini, Gandhi, My Father, Musafir and Black.