At a time when celebrities, especially from Bollywood, are busy vying for their share of 15-minutes of fame in national media by raking up non-issues like 'intolerance', Akshay Kumar and Nana Patekar are two of the actors, who are doing social work away from the media glare. A contemporary of Akshay Kumar may charge Rs. 3 cr per episode in the name of conscientious awareness-creation, but Akki is not the one who is after publicity.

Months ago, it was widely reported in national media that Akshay earmarked something like Rs. Rs. 90 lacs to help widows and families who are victims of farm distress and far crisis-led suicides. A spate of suicides in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra have been described as one of the blots on our society. In this region and especially in Beed district, Akshay has been taking up social service activities. Notably, he has not been overtly public about his moves. He has not fallen back on any NGO to carry the activities. It is said that he has relied on some trustworthy individuals. The giving away of cheques is usually done in the presence of a bureaucrat.

Nana Patekar, who has openly said that he can't sit at home when farmers kill themselves, warns that there could be a farmers' revolution.