19.58°C Vancouver

Apr 21, 2021 7:46 PM - ANI

Actors Farhan Akhtar, Sonu Sood question Serum Institute for disparity in prices between Centre, states

Share On
actors-farhan-akhtar-sonu-sood-question-serum-institute-for-disparity-in-prices-between-centre-states
Farhan Akhtar & Sonu Sood/ ANI

Bollywood actors Farhan Akhtar and Sonu Sood on Wednesday questioned why the Serum Institute of India (SII) was not providing its Covishield vaccine at the same price to the centre and the states.

Taking a dig at the world's largest vaccine manufacturer SII, which released the rate card for Covishield vaccines today, Bollywood actors Farhan Akhtar and Sonu Sood took to their Twitter handles and questioned the company over the disparity in rates of the vaccine to the centre and the states.

Farhan wrote, "Can a spokesperson for the @SerumInstIndia please help us understand why states should not get Covishield at the same price as the centre?? And if they have issued a statement citing reasons, could someone please share a link re the same. Thank you."

Sonu who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days back also stressed on providing free vaccinations to those who are needy. He tweeted, "Every needy should get vaccine for free. Very important to put a cap on the pricing. Corporates and individuals who can afford should come forward to help everyone get vaccinated."

"Dhandha phir kabhi aur kar lenge. (Do business some other time)," he added.

The tweets from the actors came a few hours after the SII announced the rate cards for Covishield vaccines for states and centre ahead of May 1 COVID-19 vaccination drive, which will make everyone above 18 years of age eligible to get vaccinated.

According to media statements, the institute had fixed the prices of the Covishield vaccine at Rs 400 per dose for state governments and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals.

As of now, SII is selling Covishield to the Centre at Rs 150 per dose. Additionally, those who are eligible for the vaccine at present can get it at Rs 250 per dose from private hospitals.

According to the ministry, the cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has reached 13,01,19,310 with 29,90,197 vaccine doses being given in a span of 24 hours, according to data updated at 7 am.

Bollywood stars including Anil Kapoor, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher, Hema Malini, Johnny Lever, Saif Ali Khan, Kamal Haasan and Satish Shah have received vaccination shots.

Meanwhile, the second wave of coronavirus has infected many people, and the number of COVID-19 positive cases has been rapidly rising.

An array of celebrities like Govinda, Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar and more have also got infected within a span of a few weeks.

According to the latest reports provided by the state health ministry on Tuesday, 58,924 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Maharashtra in the last 24 hours. As many as 52,412 people recovered in the said period and 351 died. The total case tally reached 38,98,262 while the death toll reached 60,824. (ANI)

Latest news

zakir-khan-makes-history-at-madison-square-garden
BollywoodAug 19, 2025

Zakir Khan Makes History at Madison Square Garden

In a groundbreaking moment for Indian comedy, Zakir Khan took the stage at Madison Square Garden on August 17, 2025, becoming the first Indian comedian to headline a Hindi-language show at the iconic venue. The event marked a significant milestone in his career and the broader landscape of Indian entertainment. As the lights dimmed and the crowd of 6,000 fans erupted in applause, Zakir stepped into the spotlight with an air of excitement and gratitude. His journey to this moment had been filled with hard work, dedication, and a unique style that blends emotional storytelling with observat
actor-achyut-potdar-passes-away
BollywoodAug 19, 2025

Actor Achyut Potdar Passes Away

Achyut Potdar, renowned for his performances in television series and films like “Bharat Ki Khoj,” “Pradhan Mantri,” and “3 Idiots,” has passed away at a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He portrayed supporting roles in several legendary films and TV series, including “Aandolan,” “Wagle Ki Duniya,” “Dabangg 2,” and “Ferrari Ki Sawaari.” His memorable cameo as a professor in Rajkumar Hirani’s “3 Idiots” (2019) featured the line “Kehna Kya Chahte Ho,” which has become a beloved moment from the Aamir Khan film, frequently referenced in pop cul
gunfire-at-elvish-yadavs-home
BollywoodAug 19, 2025

Gunfire at Elvish Yadav’s Home

Over two dozen bullets were fired outside YouTuber Elvish Yadav’s residence in Gurugram’s Sector 57. Two masked men on a bike opened fire around 5:30 am. Elvish was not home, but his family was inside. No injuries were reported. CCTV footage shows one attacker leaning over the gate and firing multiple rounds before fleeing. Soon after, a gang calling itself the Bhau Gang claimed responsibility online. Gangsters Neeraj Faridpuria and Himanshu Bhau (alias Bhau Ritoliya) posted threats targeting Elvish and other influencers allegedly promoting betting apps. Elvish’s father confirmed hearin
gaurav-tanejas-beast-life-surpasses-rs-100-crore-in-revenue
BollywoodAug 15, 2025

Gaurav Taneja's Beast Life Surpasses Rs 100 Crore in Revenue

YouTuber Gaurav Taneja, also known as Flying Beast, has successfully achieved an impressive annual recurring revenue of Rs 100 crore for his protein supplement brand, Beast Life. This milestone comes after his appearance on the fourth season of Shark Tank India, where his pitch for the brand did not go as planned. During the show, he faced criticism, particularly from Anupam Mittal, who expressed doubts about Gaurav's status as a genuine entrepreneur. Taneja, who boasts a YouTube following of over nine million, left the show without securing any investment. In a recent vlog, he shared fo
bipasha-basu-responds-to-mrunal-thakurs-viral-comments
BollywoodAug 15, 2025

Bipasha Basu Responds to Mrunal Thakur's Viral Comments

Recently, an old clip featuring actress Mrunal Thakur from her days on Kumkumbhagya has resurfaced and gained traction on social media. In the footage, Mrunal made a remark about Bipasha Basu, calling her "manly with muscles" and asserting that she was "better" than her. Bipasha responded indirectly through her Instagram Stories, posting a thought-provoking quote: “Strong women lift each other up.” She elaborated in her caption, encouraging women to embrace strength, stating, “Get those muscles, beautiful ladies, we should be strong. Muscles help you attain good physical and mental

Related News

No records found.