The actor has formed a Martial Arts Training Institute for women in Mumbai
Akshay Kumar has recently raised concerns about the security of women in his homeland of India and has suggested that not enough is being done to tackle the issue in the country in which widespread cases of rape are emerging.
The Bollywood superstar has said that rapists are unafraid to commit crimes as there is nothing to prevent or deter them from acting on their urges, with a majority of rape cases being repeat offences.
Akshay said: “The thought that a man can think he can overpower a woman whenever he wants to and take advantage of her when she is defenceless is wrong!”
Speaking to the Hindustan Times in the aftermath of a string of rape cases, the most recent of which was the alleged rape of a financial analyst by a Delhi-based taxi driver, Akshay said: “We need to put fear in men, instead of women walking around in fear every day. There is no excuse not to have a strict punishment for such inhumane action.”
The international star, who admitted concern for the security and well-being of his two-year-old daughter, Nitara, in her future upbringing in India said: “I thought I was protective of my daughter before, but there’s nothing that prepares you, as a parent, for the constant fear about your daughter’s safety and happiness.
“I know it’s my duty, as a father, to look after her but I also expect my country’s government to protect her.”
Akshay, who has always been a strong advocate for women’s right, has taken a tough stand against the rape atrocities. Taking the issue into his own hands, the film star has formed a Martial Arts Training Institute for women in Mumbai in partnership with the politician Aditya Thackeray, the son of Uddhav Thackeray, head of the Shib Sena politicial group.
He said in explanation of his motivations behind the project: “With the support of Aditya we started to set up free self-defence classes for as many women as we can to counter the menace of men attacking women.”
