Odisha: Man cycles 60km to meet, thank Ollywood actor Sabyasachi

BHUBANESWAR: Drenched in rain, a 32-year-old man cycled for more than 60km from Salipur to Bhubaneswar for three days to meet

Ollywood

actor Sabyasachi Mishra to convey his gratitude to him for helping countless people in distress during the Covid pandemic.

“Sabyasachi sir might have been receiving hundreds of good wishes from his fans and followers on social media and on his phone. But I thought of personally thanking him for his noble work in this hour of crisis,” Debendra

Bhoi

, who did his diploma in mechanical engineering in 2012, said.

Unfazed by rains, Bhoi set off his cycle journey to Bhubaneswar from his Salipur village on the afternoon of June 15 and reached Bhubaneswar the same evening. With a photo frame of

Sabyasachi

fixed in front of his cycle, he started looking for his hero on the streets of Bhubaneswar.

“I did not have the actor’s contact number or address. It was difficult for me to find him in this big city. I am also not well-conversant with social media. I enquired about his contact details from several passers-by. One of them clicked my photo and shared it on his Facebook page and tagged Sabyasachi sir,” Bhoi said. He added that help also came from another in Nayapalli, who arranged for his food and accommodation in a community club and assured him of helping him meet with the actor.

Sabyasachi came to know about Bhoi’s pursuit for him from the social media on Saturday. “I was curious to meet the man, who had come on a cycle all the way from his village to meet me. I got in touch with the person, who had shared Bhoi’s photo and intention on social media. I met Bhoi near Rupali Square,” Sabyasachi said.

The actor said Bhoi neither made any request nor placed any demand before him. “He gave me my photo and thanked me for my philanthropy work. I have received many appreciations and awards in many grand functions. But Bhoi’s appreciation was a big award for me,” Sabyasachi said.

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