Sonu Sood responds to ‘self-marketing’ claims over Nepal flood relief, says he wants to help children and families

Sonu Sood hits back at ‘self-marketing’ criticism over Nepal flood relief work

Mumbai: Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood has responded to criticism surrounding his relief work in flood-hit Nepal, after some questioned whether his publicised efforts were an attempt at “self-marketing”.

Sood has travelled to Nepal to support people affected by the devastating floods, carrying essential supplies and visiting relief camps and badly affected areas. He has said the situation on the ground is heartbreaking, particularly for children who have lost their homes and families.

Sood says the focus should be on people affected by the disaster

Speaking about his visit, Sood stressed that the humanitarian crisis should remain the focus rather than debates over publicity.

The actor said he wanted to do whatever possible to help people struggling after the disaster. During his visit to relief camps, he met families who had lost their homes and loved ones.

Sood also spoke about children whose parents were missing in the aftermath of the floods, saying the situation had left him feeling helpless.

‘I wish I could adopt her’

In an interview with NDTV, Sood recalled meeting a young girl at a relief camp who followed him until he left in his car.

The encounter affected him deeply. Sood said he wished he could adopt the child and do something to improve her situation, while acknowledging the enormous scale of the crisis.

He urged people to contribute in whatever way they could, saying collective efforts could make a meaningful difference for disaster-hit families.

Actor personally visits flood-hit areas

Sood arrived in Kathmandu with relief material and subsequently visited affected communities, including areas that suffered extensive destruction.

Reports said his team distributed food, blankets and other essential supplies to survivors. Sood has also indicated that his relief efforts will continue beyond the immediate emergency phase, with a focus on helping affected communities rebuild.

The actor's latest humanitarian intervention comes as Nepal grapples with a catastrophic flood disaster. The flooding and landslides have caused widespread destruction, with thousands of people killed or reported missing and large numbers of families displaced.

A familiar role for Sood

Sood has previously attracted considerable attention for his humanitarian work, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he helped stranded migrant workers travel home and supported people seeking medical and other assistance.

His relief activities have since continued through various initiatives.

While his public presence during humanitarian campaigns has occasionally attracted criticism, Sood has maintained that his priority is helping people who need assistance.

Nepal faces a long road to recovery

The immediate relief effort in Nepal is being complicated by damaged roads, difficult terrain and the destruction of key infrastructure. Many affected communities remain difficult to reach, while families continue searching for missing relatives.

Against this backdrop, Sood has called for individuals and organisations to step forward and contribute to relief and rehabilitation.

For the actor, the message is straightforward: the priority should be supporting survivors and helping them rebuild their lives rather than focusing on the criticism surrounding those providing assistance.