Not many may be aware that legendary actor Shammi Kapoor who lived life to the fullest was down with a kidney failure and used to go to the Breach Candy Hospital thrice a week for his treatment. As Kapoor himself once admitted that he wanted to “live for the four other days of the week. When my wife would call me to enquire where I was I would be driving off to Lomavla to have a cup of tea. I loved my driving and I wanted to live it up with kidney disease,” Shammi had famously said.
As World Kidney Day approaches on March 11
and a virtual walkathon is currently taking place this week, we learn that
Ranbir Kapoor, the grand-nephew of Shammi Kapoor has also pledged to donate not
just his kidney but other organs as well. In an event organised by the Amar
Gandhi Foundation everyone from producer Karan Johar, director Ayan Mukerji of
Brahmastra to Ranbir Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan pledged to donate their
kidneys while Alia Bhatt also supports the cause.
"A real hero is someone who helps everyone else
recycle their organs. I have pledged my own organs and you can too and visit
www.amargandhifoundation,in to register," Ayan and Karan posted videos
also pledged his organs and asked everyone else to do so.
“Pledge & donate my organs, I hope that by me
doing this it will make a difference to one person or two person lives, and it
keeps going forward and it will make a difference, so please do consider
pledging your organs,” Ranbir said.
Interestingly Alia Bhatt also said, “It is
important to make people aware of the process behind it. I think it is
important to come and talk about the health issues and Amar Gandhi Foundation
and Organ donation awareness drive. Make people aware of the prospects of their
organ donation, alive or post-death”.
Incidentally Amitabh Bachchan too who is a part of
Brahmastra announced recently that wears a green ribbon because he has pledged
his organs.