‘Like a brother’: Akshay Kumar sends Rs 2.5 million to famous Punjabi singer to overcome financial crisis

Chandigarh: Just days after Glory Bawa, daughter of famous Punjabi folk singer and Padma Bhushan awardee Gurmeet Bawa, sought help from the government and shared her financial difficulties on social media, actor Akshay Kumar on Saturday ₹25 lakh to tide over the crisis.

“I don’t have the words to express what it means to me,” said Glory, who was touched by her “brother’s” grand gesture. “Kumar didn’t want to call it help, but something a brother would do for his sister,” she added. Asked if the money will end her financial problems, Glory said, “It will definitely help me and my family. But I want work and I have asked for it. People have started reaching out to me and I hope that artists like us will find something meaningful to do.”

Kumar said, “I came to know about this from social media. Bahato dukh hua ki Gurmeet Bawa ji jo Punjab ki shaan thi a man struggling with financial problems. Maine isn’t it Glory Bawa I am samajh I just made my gesture. Yes I can’t help but help I am Punjabi and I am an artist who taught me what I mean. (It was disheartening to see Punjab pride Gurmeet Bawa’s family suffering from financial problems. It is a gesture of love shown to her daughter Glory Bawa as a brother. This is not help but fulfillment of my responsibility as a Punjabi and an artist).”

Recently, Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal and Amritsar DC Ghanshyam Thori also visited her house and presented her with a ₹Each will receive a check for $100,000 as support. Glory, the only surviving breadwinner in the family, had mentioned in the video how her family was struggling financially. She also talked about how she had to take care of her sister Simran and her daughter, her own daughter and the children of her late sister Lachi Bawa, also a well-known singer who died of cancer.

Her mother Gurmeet was known for her long ‘hek’ (singing in one breath) which she could hold for a record-breaking 45 seconds. She was one of the artists known for her singing. Jugni after Alam Lohar and was the first Punjabi singer to sing on Doordarshan.