Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has come forward to donate to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's PM-CARES fund. He has pledged Rs 25 crore for the fund, which is an initiative to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Akshay announced a donation of Rs 25 crore, the largest amount by any Indian celebrity so far. "This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi ji’s PM-CARES Fund. Let’s save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai," Akshay said on Twitter.

This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi ji’s PM-CARES Fund. Let’s save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai. 🙏🏻 https://t.co/dKbxiLXFLS — Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 28, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called Kumar's pledge a 'great gesture'.

Great gesture @akshaykumar. Let’s keep donating for a healthier India. https://t.co/3KAqzgRFOW — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2020

Earlier, Hrithik and comedian Kapil Sharma had announced their donation of Rs 20 lakh and Rs 50 lakh respectively for the war against COVID-19.

Various A-listers from the southern film industries have also come forward to donate for the cause.

Bahubali star Prabhas donated an amount of Rs 4 crore for Covid-19 relief. As per an IANS report, Out of the donation amount, the Baahubali star pledged of Rs 3 crore to the Prime Minister's relief fund and Rs 50 Lakhs each to Chief Minister's relief fund of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Earlier, Telugu superstars Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan, Chiranjeevi and Mahesh Babu had also donated to boost the fight against COVID-19. It was Pawan Kalyan who initiated the nobel gesture giving Rs 2 crore for the cause.

The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said, ‘ I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing.’ https://t.co/R9hEin8KF1 — Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) March 28, 2020

Soon, his nephew Ram Charan declared a charity of Rs 70 lakh while Ram Charan's father, the veteran superstar of Telugu cinema, Chiranjeevi, gave Rs 1 crore. Young superstar Mahesh Babu also gave a crore for the cause.

Tollywood star Allu Arjun was the latest South actor to donate for the cause. He announced a announced a sum of Rs 1.25 crore for the welfare of those affected due to the coronavirus pandemic in states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Telangana, recently.