Priyanka Chopra tells girls 'you decide your future'

Priyanka Chopra has a message for young girls — Never let anyone tell you who you can be. On the occasion of International Women's Day on Wednesday, the actress took to her social media accounts to encourage a new sense of independence among young girls across the world. 

"The one big message I give young girls all around the world and especially young girls in India is… never let anyone tell you who you can be. And what you need to be. And who you should be," Chopra said. 

The former Miss World, who has been roped in as the global ambassador of hair care brand Pantene, sent out the message through a special video for the brand on Wednesday, read a statement.

Chopra, who is earning recognition for her work internationally courtesy her American show Quantico, added, "For centuries girls have been told how they need to act, what they need to wear and what they need to dress like" and it is time for girls to take their own calls. "You decide. You figure your future. You decide what is important for you in life," she added. 

This was not the only message Chopra put out through her social media. The actress was quite busy throughout the day. On Twitter, Chopra tweeted out a video of the Girl Rising Campaign focussing on the need for the education of the girl child in India. In a touching video, Chopra said, "This Women's Day, let's celebrate every woman. Every girl." 

In an interview with The Times of India newspaper for the #NoConditionsApply campaign, the actress demanded that there needs to be a 'bigger conversation around feminism'. She said, "It starts with a bigger conversation around feminism, which is about making decisions for ourselves without being judged, and with the same freedom that men have enjoyed for so many years. And just like men, no condition should be placed on women before letting them make their own decisions." 

She added that as one of the few women in a privileged position, she hopes that every girl in the country has the same opportunity. She said, "I'm grateful that I am in that lot. When I think about being the woman I want to be, I just want to be the best version of myself. " 

The Quantico star reiterated her message saying, "I don't walk around with a mashaal saying that life should be a war. But no conditions must be placed on any human being that stops them from being who they want to be. This applies to girls in India, too."

Chopra added, "I'm progressive about this. I want to educate people that women shouldn't have to pay a price to begin with. That is an important debate to have. It's not the right thinking. It's not okay, even though it happens too often around all of us." 

Chopra will soon be seen as the villain, Victoria Leeds, in the movie Baywatch. It is her courageous stance and conviction that has actually made this desi girl such a hit on the international platform. 

With inputs from IANS