Tomorrow, Today – Sonu Sood on Humanity, Love & the Future of Technology

Host: Shekhar Natarajan
Guest: Sonu Sood
Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Tomorrow, Today features acclaimed actor and humanitarian Sonu Sood in a deep-dive conversation with host Shekhar Natarajan. They explore what it means to be human in a rapidly evolving, tech-driven world. The conversation weaves through subjects ranging from compassion during crisis, the moral and emotional complexities of living for 300 years, technology’s impact on health, relationships and identity, and what true humanity looks like as we approach the next era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Essence of Humanity: Compassion in Action

• [00:19] Introduction and Tribute
  • Shekhar opens with an emotional tribute to Sonu’s humanitarian work during the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing moments of selfless service:

    “…You reminded an entire nation what it means to be human. Not rich or poor. Not upper caste or lower caste. Just being a human.” (Shekhar, 01:11)

• Sonu’s Motivation
  • [08:18] Sonu reflects on his pandemic efforts, attributing his actions to a sense of destiny and a compulsion to help:

    “Whatever I could do in Pandemic was planned by Almighty… there was a force helping me do what I was doing.” (Sonu, 08:25)

• The Unending Need for Compassion
  • Throughout, Sonu emphasizes empathy and a refusal to “look away” from suffering, framing humanitarian action as a deeply personal necessity rather than a pursuit of recognition.

2. Longevity: Blessing or Curse?

• [20:03] Imagining Life for 300 Years
  • Shekhar raises hypotheticals about extreme longevity.

    “Let’s say that person that went to Karnataka... they now get to live for 300 years. Would their life become easier or tougher?” (Shekhar, 20:03)

  • Sonu questions whether a longer life guarantees happiness or fulfillment:

    “300 years is a long time… life is never easy no matter how much you achieve… contentment depends upon your personality.” (Sonu, 20:22)

• [37:02] Would Sonu Choose 300 Additional Years?
  • Sonu resists the promise of longevity pills:

    “No, I don’t think so. I will. Maybe.” (Sonu, 39:25)

3. Quality vs. Quantity of Life

• [91:13] When asked if he’d rather grant longevity to a few or good quality of life to many, Sonu is resolute:

  “Quality of life. Good health… I will try to choose people or give them some kind of a life which is not just years… but quality.” (Sonu, 91:13)

4. Technology, Information, and Social Media

• [44:19] The Double-Edged Sword
  • Shekhar and Sonu discuss the proliferation of data, misinformation, and the psychological impact of AI and platforms:

    “So information… whether from a right source or from a wrong source… everything has its own pros and cons. It has come with a baggage.” (Sonu, 46:57)

• [52:56] AI and Mental Health Risks
  • Shekhar references the tragic story of a child aided by AI to commit suicide, underscoring technology’s lack of emotional intelligence.

5. Relationships and Emotional Endurance Across Time

• [75:29] On Love Over Centuries
  • Shekhar probes whether love can withstand centuries:

    “Will the love be the same even for 300 years? Are you sure?” (Shekhar, 75:29)

  • Sonu contends that mature love endures, shaped by evolving challenges:

    “In matured individuals they realize that we change with time. But that doesn’t mean ...” (Sonu, 75:42)

• [80:11] Expectations and Divorce Rates
  • Sonu points to “too many expectations” as the primary reason relationships fracture, irrespective of time.

6. The Value of Sacrifice and Altruism

• [107:01] Ultimate Choices: Family or Stranger?
  • When asked whether he’d give a life-saving pill to his mother or himself:

    “I’ll give to my mother… she is the most precious thing in my life and I want her to live for a thousand years.” (Sonu, 107:01)

  • On choosing between his son and a stranger’s dying child:

    “Numbers multiply.” (Sonu, 108:15) — implying the far-reaching impact of compassion.

7. Inequality, Influence, and Changing Society

• [104:27] Why Is Humanity Less Popular Than Celebrity?
  • Shekhar questions why acts of kindness garner less public adulation than celebrity culture.

    “They’ve done well in their life. They are achievers. They have done well. So they are very, very happy for them.” (Sonu, 104:27)

  • Sonu humbly acknowledges both his lane and the influence of entertainment stars.

8. Defining Humanity

• [125:41]

  “If you can set your priorities right and you feel that you are capable of changing your life, doesn’t really matter whether you’re rich, famous or influential… don’t wait for a day to become rich, famous, influential. Start your journey today of giving back to society.” (Sonu, 125:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You are the man who remembered to be human.” (Shekhar, 01:23)
• “I can sit idle. I can sit without surfing the net or without going through the reels… Technology will come with its baggage and it depends how you deal with that.” (Sonu, 55:15)
• “Life is like a treadmill. You have to keep on walking. The day you stop you’ll fall.” (Sonu, 37:02)
• “I never help those people with an intention that they’ll do that thing or not. I did my job… it’s a chain reaction.” (Sonu, 127:12)
• Rapid Fire [106:57]:
  • Mother or myself? “I’ll give [the pill] to my mother.” (Sonu, 107:01)
  • Dalit or Brahmin? “Her religion. Zero for.” (Sonu, 115:18)
  • Acting or Immortality? “I don’t want the pill.” (Sonu, 116:07)

Important Timestamps

• 00:19 – 05:38: Host’s stirring introduction and tribute to Sonu’s humanitarian impact
• 08:18 – 13:00: Sonu recounts the logistics, emotions and lasting lessons of pandemic relief work
• 20:03 – 22:59: First exploration of “life for 300 years”—doubts about whether longevity brings contentment
• 44:19 – 52:56: The rise of misinformation, AI’s dangers, and social media’s societal fallout
• 75:29 – 80:14: Deep reflections on love, relationships, and the challenges of sustaining bonds across time
• 107:01 – 108:35: Rapid-fire ethical dilemmas about family, strangers, and integrity
• 125:41 – 128:07: Sonu defines humanity and envisions the chain reaction of kindness

Tone & Language

Shekhar balances raw honesty and philosophical musing, drawing out Sonu’s grounded, quietly idealistic worldview. Sonu’s language is humble, sometimes poetic, and always practical—often circling back to lived experience, rooted values, and the hard limits of what technology can and cannot change about the human heart.

Final Thoughts

• Sonu Sood frames humanity as a chain of small, everyday acts—the heroism of ordinary people, the importance of prioritizing compassion and quality of life over longevity or recognition.
• The future may be shaped by technologies that challenge our definition of community, love, and self—yet, in Sonu’s view, nothing can replace the urgency and authenticity of human connection forged in response to suffering.
• Listeners are left with both unsettling questions (“Would we want to live for 300 years?”) and a clear call to action: start giving back, now, in large ways or small.

Closing Quote:

“Start your journey today of giving back to society. And I think that will make you the richest individual in this world.”
(Sonu Sood, 125:54)