Bollywood babes in 'bachcha' company

While actress Katrina Kaif’s support for Salman Khan’s charity is quite known, not many are aware of the Bollywood beauty’s active involvement in her mum Sussana’s Madurai-based NGO. One of the main reasons she does that is for her love for children.

“Spending time with kids lets me become a child again,” says Katrina, who inspite of her hectic schedule makes it a point to go down to Madurai and interact with the toddlers and children there every year.

“I love children, I think all women do. It’s an inborn trait with all of us. All women have a mother in them, an instinct to nurture and it’s children who let us experience that joy. So, we do owe them so much,” she says.

“Just interacting with them takes you to a different world altogether. Their innocence, carefree ways and the ability to smile through all adversities, teaches so much. Their smiles are infectious and you cannot help but feel their joy drown out your own emotions. And they never judge you. I just thank God that I am in a position to do something for them,” smiles the actor.

For Children’s Day, the actress hopes that everyone does their bit to ensure that every child has access to their rights — basic amenities, good education and health facitlities. “They are our future and they need to be protected. Education is a strong weapon for that,” she signs off.   

Charity begins at home, and rightly so for actor Preity Zinta who realised this when a tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed over two lakh people and left hundreds displaced in 2004. 

“Suddenly I had a different view about issues. I realised that it is always about I, Me, Myself. Everybody works hard and I wanted to do something that would differentiate me from anybody else,” she says.

 The actor’s pet projects include working with the UN for spreading awareness about HIV (ambassador for the UNAIDS) and providing assistance and working for the welfare of widows and children (ambassador of Loomba Trust). “I completely understand and empathise with problems faced by widows and the cause closest to my heart is providing education opportunities for children. When you educate a child, you are giving him/her a fair shot in life,” Preity elaborates.

The actor has also managed to raise close to 2,50,000 pounds at the Loomba charity dinner in London, the proceeds of which will go to widows and their children from 13 different countries (India included). Being a public figure, she also urges people out there to go out and do their bit.

“If anybody can afford to go to a five star hotel, then they can spare Rs 500 a month and educate a child. It doesn’t really matter how wealthy you are or how beautiful you look. Giving back to the society without expecting anything gives me immense satisfaction. It is my inner space, my personal growth, which is my core, my essence,” she says.