Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush announced as UN Women’s Advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India

Film director will raise awareness on gender equality and the empowerment of women; boost UN Women’s efforts to close the gender gap and achieve ‘Planet 50-50’ by 2030

Chennai, India — United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri today announced the appointment of film director, classical dancer and writer, Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush, as UN Women’s Advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India.

Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush, Film director and UN Women’s Advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India. Photo: UN Women/Nagoor Gani

Aishwaryaa will help raise awareness of UN Women’s core messages of gender equality and women’s empowerment across India, boosting the organisation’s efforts to close the gender gap and achieve a more equal world – a Planet 50-50 – by the year 2030.

Aishwaryaa is a leading film director and a startup entrepreneur. In 2015, she launched Ten Entertainment, a digital medium to promote short film content and new digital ventures. She oversees the production activities of Wunderbar Films, a company launched by her husband and renowned film actor Dhanush. She is currently working on a book, Standing On An Apple Box, which describes her life as a celebrity daughter, mother and wife. She is also scripting for her next feature film.

“Aishwaryaa inspires confidence in young women and girls across South India and beyond,” said Lakshmi Puri. “With her steadfast belief in gender equality and her commitment to achieving it, I am sure she will take UN Women’s message to millions of women, girls, men and boys, and motivate artists, students, intellectuals and policymakers to place gender equality at the heart of their work,” Ms. Puri added.

“It will be an honour to serve as UN Women’s Advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India,” Aishwaryaa said in her acceptance speech. “Ensuring safe public and private spaces for women and their effective participation in politics, decision making and the economy are essential steps towards gender equality and the empowerment of women. Through my position I hope to draw attention to some of the challenges and also highlight solutions. I firmly believe that we need accelerated action on gender equality. We need a Planet 50-50 by 2030 and our efforts must begin now.”

Dr. Rebecca Reichmann Tavares, Representative, UN Women India, welcomed Aishwaryaa to the UN Women family. “We are delighted to have Aishwaryaa as UN Women’s Advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India. As a filmmaker, dancer – and now writer – she is perfectly placed to reach out to a range of audiences, particularly young people, and to encourage them to speak out and act to prevent violence against women, create a level playing field for women and girls, and most importantly, help change mindsets and attitudes that allow inequalities to persist.”

(left to right) Ms. Lakshmi Puri (UN Women Deputy Executive Director), Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush (Film director) and Dr. Rebecca Reichmann Tavares (Representative for UN Women India). Photo: UN Women/Rajkumar

Aishwaryaa’s father, acclaimed film actor Mr. Rajinikanth, said he was proud and delighted to have his daughter associated with UN Women to further gender equality. “Aishwaryaa has always been her own woman, poised and resolute. Her success is the result of sheer courage, determination and perseverance. I support her dedication to gender equality and her untiring efforts will go a long way in strengthening women’s rights throughout the region. I support gender equality. And I encourage all men and boys to take the HeForShe pledge. As a father I am very proud UN Women has selected Aishwaryaa as their Advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India. I am extremely happy she is associating herself with such a prestigious and relevant cause."

He agrees that gender equality is not just a ‘women’s issue’; it requires everyone to come forward and act to prevent violence against women and ensure equal opportunities for women in our homes and our workplaces.

Aishwaryaa joins other high profile figures such as actor-filmmaker-singer Farhan Akhtar, tennis star Sania Mirza, British actor Emma Watson, Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman and Anne Hathaway, and HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand, who have joined hands with UN Women to work for gender equality and the empowerment of women.