Tollywood celebrities to play charity indoor cricket match to raise funds for underprivileged children

The money raised will be used for the betterment of underprivileged children.

The match is the brainchild of Mahesh Jalan, an astrologer who found fame while appearing in a Bengali reality show in late 2013.

Rituparna Sengupta unveiled the trophy and said: "It is a unique initiative. I want to thank these people for thinking about the (underprivileged) children."

“As a responsible citizen this is my duty. I always feel upbeat about this,” the actress said while discussing the issue of eradicating illiteracy, poverty and hunger.

The Muktodhara actress further added, “If we take up this initiative together, we can make it a lot bigger.”

Manabi Bandopadhyay, who shot to fame earlier this year by becoming the first transgender college principal of India, identified herself as a street dweller.

“I myself was a street dweller,”  Bandopadhyay said while holding a kid close to her.

She said, “Within every kid resides a grown up man, she might not understand every word I say today, but I am sure she feels the warmth of it.”

Avijit ‘Pota’ Burman, ex-crooner of the popular Kolkata based band Cactus said, “We say a lot, but seldom take an action and I want to thank Jalan Bhai (Mahesh Jalan) for this brilliant initiative.”

Pota added, “If the celebrities can do their bit, we will truly develop in to a great nation. Let’s provide these kids with basic amenities.”

Two NGO’s ACTT (All Children Together Trust) and Lions Club New Alipore have teamed up with the project and a total number of 500 children will be benefited through this initiative.

(Reporting by Sudipto Maity, Image by Shubhodeep Sardar/IBNS)