Indian actor, director and singer Farhan Akhtar has been announced as UN Women's Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia, becoming the first male to be appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador in the organisation's history.

Akhtar is to join the fight to empower women and girls, and will serve as an advocate for UN Women's HeForShe initiative, recently launched by Emma Watson. Akhtar, who started his own campaign, MARD - Men Against Rape and Discrimination - said 'This gives me and our MARD initiative an added impetus to work together towards a more gender equal India and world... I am a supporter of UN Women's HeForShe campaign and the role men and boys can play in stopping crime against women and girls'.