Some dancers have used the money as the principal amount to start small businesses like selling vegetables, eggs & snacks counters on the roadside, and tiffin service. Raj Surani of Octopus Entertainment who has been motivating the dancers to become self-reliant in these trying times said that he is grateful to Katrina Kaif who has come forward to help the dancers. He said, “The dancers have utilised the money transferred by Katrina to start small businesses like tiffin services, beauty services and selling homemade chocolates.”
A senior dancer Hetal travels all the way to the APMC market to buy vegetables and has started selling it online to societies. Hetal says, “I am taking the risk of my life as I leave at 3 am in the morning leaving my children alone to buy vegetables and then come back and sell vegetables to locals.”
Inspiration is contagious. Encouraged by Surani, these dancers have been motivating each other by telling their stories of survival on their WhatsApp group. When they hear their fellow dancers doing small businesses and jobs to become self-reliant, they also get inspired to do so.