/> Raj Kapoor had once said about the woman he loved, "My heroine can never be my wife. " If the truth be told, the true inheritor of the RK tradition of falling in love with his heroines is Ranbir. From Sonam Kapoor in Saawariya to Nargis Fakhri in Rockstar...Ranbir has been linked with every co-star barring Konkona Sensharma during Wake Up, Sid.

But the truth is, there are only two women Ranbir really loves. His mother and sister. And the sooner his grilfriends accept that the better for them.

Speaking on the women he adores Ranbir exults, "On International Womens Day I salute my mother for the values which she imbibed in my sister Riddhima and me. She taught us by example that men and women are equal.

In fact in my case I believe that Riddhima had an edge over me because she is a girl!

I WISH THAT TO HAPPEN TO EVERY GIRLCHILD IN INDIA. . . I would like all parents to give their daughters an edge over their sons, to MAKE UP for all the years in our society, where girls have been treated as less then boys. "

For International Women's Day the new youth icon of girl power says, "I think International Womens Day is important because it celebrates the struggle of women to get their due.

Of course I agree that every day should be celebrated as Women's Day but to have a symbolic day is important because it brings focus to an issue that needs attention. In the film Industry too things are changing.

Todays heroines are far more free to lead the lives they wish to Marriage and kids do not stop a Kajol or a Madhuri Dixit to be coveted by filmakers. Its a welcome change and I'm for empowerment of women because I believe that's good for our society. "

Thanks to his association with Shabana Azmi and her Mijwan Welfare Society Ranbir is now an active participant in the betterment of conditions for the collective development of the girl child.

Says Ranbir, "We need to give the girlchild equal opportunity to the male child. I am happy that Mijwan Welfare Society an NGO in Azamgarh UP, founded by Kaifi Azmi Saheb and now run by Shabana Azmi and Namrata Goyal, is working to transform the lives of girls in rural India.

As Youth Leader of Mijwan Welfare Society (MWS) I realise that today I would like all parents to give their daughters an edge over their sons, to MAKE UP for all the years in our society, where girls have been treated as less then boys. We need to give the girlchild equal opportunity so she gets a level playing field which is what MWS is doing. "

Surprisingly Ranbir is now a vocal champion of girl power. "As Youth Leader of Mijwan Welfare Society I realise that today's girlchild is tomorrow's empowered woman. We must invest in our girlchild, give her equal opportunity, so that the power of youth, propelled by girls and boys together, makes India a shining example for the world.

I have been sensitised to women's issues because of MIJWAN WELFARE SOCIETY ( MWS), an NGO in Azamgarh UP, founded by Kaifi Azmi Saheb and now run by Shabana Azmi and Namrata Goyal.

Even as we celebrate International Women's day I'd like to take this opportunity to remind ourselves that there are many women who are struggling against a patriarchal system and it is for the Youth to come forward and join organisations like MIJWAN WELFARE SOCIETY who are working to empower women.

Donate Rs 6000 a year and gift a girlchild education for a year. We blow up several times that amount in a single evening!