'I'm a reel hero, you (the BSF jawans) are the real heroes. I play with toy guns in films but you with original guns on borders,' Akshay Kumar tells BSF jawans.
Hailing the BSF troops as the "real heroes" of the nation, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar paid tribute to the jawans who lost their lives in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
Accompanied by Inspector General of the BSF, Jammu Frontier, D K Uphadhyaya and top BSF officers, Akshay -- who arrived in Jammu this morning from Delhi to spend time with the BSF jawans -- visited the BSF martyr memorial.
"I am fortunate that I got the opportunity to come and meet you. I have always said that I'm a reel hero, you (the BSF jawans) are the real heroes. I play with toy guns in films but you with original guns on borders. Really, you are big-hearted," the 49-year-old actor told the jawans.
"You jawans should have been here (on the stage) and I should have been at your place."
Amid slogans, the actor said meeting the BSF jawans had been a long-standing desire of his. "Today, I thank BSF for giving me opportunity to meet you all." Earlier, the actor, whose father was also an army officer, had donated Rs 9 lakh to the family of martyred BSF jawan Gurnaam Singh.
This donation came days after his earlier donation of Rs 80 lakh to the army.
"They are decorated with a lot of medals and that is good. The samman (honour) was required for them but they need the money too. You have to be practical."
The jawans queued up to meet Akshay and clicked pictures with him.
"He is not only the best actor but a patriotic Indian who cares for the armed forces. We are humbled by his presence among us. It is a good morale boost," a BSF officer said.
The actor also called for the restoration of peace along the Indo-Pak border in J&K.
"Peace is the most important thing because a lot of lives are lost (otherwise) -- both civilian and soldiers. I think peace is the only way out," Akshay said.
Asked if he wants to give any message to Pakistan, he said that it is not political function. "We are not discussing fights, we are discussing love. We are discussing things about BSF," he said.
Akshay said a mobile application should be developed to help BSF.
"There are a lot of people in India who want to help (the families of the) BSF and army martyrs. Why cannot we make such an App, in which the names of martyrs of BSF and army, their account numbers and that of their parents are displayed."
