Even before Indian citizens and state governments went hysterical over the topic of discussion on Aamir Khan’s TV show Satyamev Jayate – female foeticide – actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was offered a chance to campaign for the girl child by visiting United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon. This happened at the Ambani party, to which the high-profile gentleman and various top Bollywood stars, including Aamir, were invited. And after mulling it over, Ash has said ‘yes’ to being part of the campaign.

As mother to a baby girl (Aaradhya) born a few months ago (November 16), we’re sure Ash had no problems about accepting the offer. All she must have checked is her schedule. She supports various other causes, including eye donation for the Eye Bank Association of India, Smile Train for children with cleft lip, and the PeTA campaign to save love birds, the last along with husband Abhishek Bachchan. A school for girls is also being built in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh in Aishwarya’s name.

As for her colleagues in B-town, the Maharashtra government has asked Aamir to be a part of their Save the Girl Child campaign. The Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments have taken action against sex determination centres. And actor-couple Ajay Devgn-Kajol, who have a daughter, will be making a documentary on the girl child for the state government, all for free. And if you remember, actor Priyanka Chopra was appointed national ambassador of the UN Children’s Fund in 2010. MI4 actor Anil Kapoor, too, had appeared in a documentary, Trapped by Tradition, which covered the issue of trafficking of females that has become a tradition in some families.

With big Bollywood stars coming forward and showing their support to the girl child, let’s just hope they are able to bring about a big change in the mindset of millions of Indians who crave a male child. And with Aishwarya leading the way, the movement could trigger a global change, too. What do you think?