Christmas is probably the only festival that manages to cut across all religions, colour and creed issues, mostly because of its very spirit of giving. The entire country is overcome with kindness, warmth and the spirit of neighborly love. Festivities, plum cakes, turkeys and Santa Claus in all shapes and sizes overtake the city activities on this day.

Everybody spends Christmas spreading cheer and goodness in their own particular fashion, and so do our celebrities too. One such person, Ashiesh Roy decided to bring cheer to an old age home in Goregaon East this Christmas. A laudable cause indeed!

Ashiesh Roy, a television actor, currently seen as Ashok in the popular Star Plus daily soap Mere Angane Mein, along with the NGO Sparsh, took part in their initiative to feed poor children and their families this Christmas. In a massive drive conducted in the city over a week, the NGO collected 100 kgs of rice, 100 kgs of dal, 100 kgs of flour, 100 kgs of sugar, 200 pouches of shampoos, combs, bathing soaps, sanitary pads, hair oil and biscuits.

Now it’s common knowledge that daily soap actors work round-the-clock, but Ashiesh Roy made it a point to reach the volunteers at night after his shoot to hand over his contribution of 10 kg rice, 10 kg flour and 50 packets of shampoo.

And this is all he had to say when we reached him. “Sorry you came to know of this. Real charity is done extremely quietly. The left hand shouldn’t know what the right hand is doing!,” he said humbly.

“To bring cheer and a smile on the faces of the poor is the greatest act of faith one can do in these times of faithlessness. And by far the best way to spend Christmas! I just wish I can do more!” he said, signing off.

Way to go, Ashiesh!!