"DON'T live in the shadows of people's judgement. Make your own choices in the light of your own wisdom."
Those are some of the invaluable insights penned by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan in his letter to his two granddaughters, Aaradhya Bachchan and Navya Naveli Nanda.
Video of the 73-year-old megastar reading the letter went viral on Facebook due to its heartfelt message which emphasised women's rights and empowerment.
Netizens, especially from India, lauded the letter, deeming it as timely as violence against women and gender inequality were still widespread in the country.
In the letter, Amitabh also asked his granddaughters to make their own choices and not let anyone else dictate their lives.
Below is the full letter as published in The Times of India:
"You both carry a very valuable legacy on your tender shoulders – Aaradhya, the legacy of your pardadaji, Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and Navya, the legacy of your pardadaji, Shri H P Nanda.
"Both your pardadaji's gave your present surnames celebrated fame, dignity and recognition. Both of you may be a Nanda or a Bachchan, but you are also girls. Women!
"And because you are women people will force their thinking, their boundaries on you.
"They will tell you how to dress, how to behave, who you can meet and where you can go.
"Don't live in the shadows of people's judgement. Make your own choices in the light of your own wisdom.
"Don't let anyone make you believe that the length of your skirt is a measure of your character.
"Don't let anyone's opinion of who you should be friends with, dictate who you will be friends with.
"Don't get married for any other reason other than you want to get married.
"People will talk. They shall say some terrible things. But that doesn't mean you have to listen to everyone. Never ever worry about – log kya kahenge.
"At the end of the day, you are the only one who will face the consequences of your actions, so don't let
other people make your decisions for you.
"Navya – the privilege your name, your surname offers you, will not protect you from the difficulties you will face because you're a woman.
"Aaradhya – by the time you see and understand this, I may well not be around. But I think what I am saying today shall still be relevant.
"This may be a difficult, difficult world to be a woman. But I believe that it is women like you that will change that. It may not be easy, setting your own boundaries, making your own choices, rising above people's judgement.
"But you, you can set an example for women everywhere.
"Do this and you would have done more than I have ever done, and it will be my honour to be known not as Amitabh Bachchan, but as your grandfather!"
Nizam Bakeri
Tue Sep 06 2016
Netizens view Amitabh Bachchan's letter as a nod to women's empowerment, especially in India. - Facebook/Amitabh Bachchan
Papagomo kemuka representasi gugur tuduhan kes hasutan kaitkan kerajaan pro Israel, Barat
Papagomo mengemukakan representasi bagi menggugurkan pertuduhan menyebut kata-kata menghasut yang mengaitkan kerajaan pro kepada Israel dan Barat.
Ali XPDC sesak nafas, Exco bantu hantar ke Hospital Serdang
Ali XPDC dikejarkan ke Hospital Serdang selepas mengalami sesak nafas di kediamannya di Salak Tinggi, Sepang.
Rombongan pengantin, jemaah umrah antara penumpang terkandas di KKIA
Rombongan pengantin dan jemaah umrah antara ribuan penumpang terkandas di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kota Kinabalu (KKIA) berikutan pembatalan penerbangan hari ini.
Rangka transformasi pendidikan tinggi demi kesihatan planet
Nickyson Nyambar membawakan perkembangan semasa Sidang Kemuncak Kesihatan Planet 2024.
Pelan Industri Sukan kini di fasa akhir - TPM Ahmad Zahid
Kementerian Belia dan Sukan kini dalam fasa akhir membangunkan Pelan Industri Sukan, yang menggariskan strategi dan inisiatif memberi manfaat kepada sektor industri sukan.
Perkembangan upacara pengebumian Joseph Kurup
Bersama wartawan AWANI Borneo di Sabah, Hafiz Mustadi di talian bagi mendapatkan perkembangan terkini.
Titah Adendum: Sokongan Ahmad Zahid kepada Najib tulus, sejati - Megat Zulkarnain
Sokongan yang dizahirkan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi terhadap petisyen Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berhubung Titah Adendum YDP Agong mengenai tahanan rumah, tulus dan sejati.
Letusan Gunung Ruang: Penumpang menunggu dalam ketidakpastian di KIA
Tinjauan di lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuching (KIA) mendapati penumpang me nunggu dalam ketidakpastian susulan pembatalan penerbangan yang berpunca letusan Gunung Berapi Ruang.
Kerajaan Perpaduan umum calon PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu minggu depan - Zambry
Zambry memaklumkan bahawa pengumuman mengenainya akan dibuat sekitar dua hari sebelum penamaan calon.
200 ulama nusantara dijangka hadiri Persidangan Ulama Sedunia Mei ini
Seramai 200 ulama nusantara dijangka hadir Persidangan Ulama Sedunia yang akan diadakan di Petaling Jaya, Selangor pada 7 dan 8 Mei ini.
Video Amitabh Bachchan sampaikan pesan kepada cucu menerusi warkah
Surat untuk cucunya, Aaradhya Bachchan dan Navya Naveli Nanda dibaca sendiri oleh Amitabh dan videonya membaca surat itu viral di media sosial.