Sometimes, a character doesn’t leave an actor long after the film is over, living inside them as a cause. For Vidya Balan, Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh (2016) would be one such movie. Since leading the thriller that depicted her as a survivor of child sexual abuse, the actor has been involved with the non-profit organisation Arpan to raise awareness about the issue and the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. This year, she leads its campaign, POCSO Pakad Lega.

“Arpan instituted the Child Safety Week in 2019. Slowly, this initiative has been growing in terms of visibility. When they approached me to lend my voice to the campaign this year, I was more than happy. It was another step forward in the right direction,” Balan tells mid-day.