/> On the National Girl Child Day Ranbir Kapoor has decided to play a new role. He will now serve as the brand ambassador for the girl child in Mijwan, Shabana Azmi's ancestral village where the activist-actress has been relentlessly fighting to educate and empower the girl child.

Borrowing a leaf from his activist great-grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor, Ranbir will use his superstardom to promote awareness of and create funds and opportunities for the girl child.

Ranbir said, "My parents always treated me and my sister Ridhima equally...In fact my sister always got preferential treatment. That's the way it should be in every household. I want the girl child to be given a little more attention than the son. And I want to work towards creating that awareness."

Ranbir's first-hand encounter with a girl child from Mijwan changed his life completely. Yup, Ranbir has a new girl in his life. And no, she is not a hot co-star.

She's a 10-year old girl called Surekha from the village of Mijwan in Azamgarh. Surekha was in Mumbai this week as Shabana Azmi's guest for the fashion show organized in support of the girl children of Mijwan.Ranbir simply fell in love with the little girl and her indomitable spirit.

Says Shabana, "Bringing little Surekha who had never been out if Mijwan to Mumbai for the show to meet her benefactors from the film industry was a wise move. It gave a face to the movement. It specially moved Ranbir who has now agreed to be the youth leader in the village of Mijwan. We aren't calling him the brand ambassador because that term has a corporate connotation that we want to avoid."

It was touch-and-go for Ranbir at Shabana Azmi-Namrata Goel ramp even on Sunday night. Ranbir who had pledged to be at the event was stuck in Kashmir shooting. When the show's hostess Shabana Azmi got a message from the Kapoors' office asking her to postpone the event her heart sank.

There was no way the show could be postponed. Every A-lister from Karan Johar and Priyanka Chopra to Hrithik Roshan and Pratik Babbar had already committed to being at the show on Sunday evening.

In fact Hrithik cut short his family holiday in London to be in Mumbai for Shabana and Namrata Goel's show.

Says Shabana, "Who says our stars are not committed to any cause ? They only need to be motivated.On Sunday evening I saw our stars set aside their busy schedules to be present for Manish Malhotra's show.Manish's energy-level is phenomenal.Many of them have given hefty cheques for the cause. But have requested to keep their names out."

As for Ranbir his commitment to the betterment of the girl child has gone way beyond one evening or one village.

When little Surekha gave her speech saying she wants to be super-model Ranbir was seen unabashedly crying.

Says Shabana emotionally, "Ranbir's participation in this cause is, I think, permanent.On Sunday evening other stars including his parents Rishi and Neetu arrived on the dot at 9 pm, almost like they had to attend a school function.

Ranbir was at the venue from 6 pm. He was there back-stage checking out all the details, interacting with Surekha and the other people from Mijwan."

Now Ranbir will visit Mijwan with Shabana and Namrata Goel.Apparently his commitment to the cause of the girl child is complete. He will set aside a chunk of time every year to work for the girl child.