Trapped By Tradition: What’s in a name?

Kapoor fights against human trafficking.

MUMBAI:

Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor has teamed up with CNN for Trapped By Tradition — a CNN Freedom Project Documentary about human trafficking. The actor from Slumdog Millionaire and TV series “24” fame, believes education is the prime solution for the problem.

As a special contributor to the CNN Freedom Project, Kapoor visited Bharatpur, where there is, reportedly, a tradition to sell young girls and women. “I feel that this practice continued over generations only due to lack of education. Educating these girls and their parents can eliminate this practice entirely,” says the 51-year-old actor, who became an international name following his role in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.

Kapoor wants to use his celebrity status to help in propelling the project. “Being a celebrity does help in mobilising such a cause. I called CNN to get associated with Plan India. We can definitely make people listen to us,” he stated in a press conference

The actor has been involved in the fight against human trafficking for several years through Plan India, an organisation that is working on the frontlines to protect children against abuse and exploitation. While sharing his experience of shooting for the documentary, Kapoor adds, “When I went there and started speaking to people, I thought they would not open up, but they were comfortable with me. I spoke to the children and their families. This is the power of the films we do and the characters we play.”

The actor wishes to be a part of a commercial film that highlights the subject of human trafficking. “I would love to do a film on human trafficking, because not many films have been made on this topic. I’m totally open to the idea.” According to the star, a film with a mainstream actor and an influential director attached to it would help in eliminating this social evil.

Other Bollywood actors, such as Rahul Bose and Salman Khan, are also associated with humanitarian organisations working towards pulling up the general standard of awareness in India. Both Bose and Khan are part of self-initiated NGOs called The Foundation (working towards eliminating discrimination) and Being Human (focusing on education and health) respectively.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2011.