Dubai, Nov 15 - Bollywood actor-director Farhan Akhtar is honored to have been appointed as UN's Women South Asia Goodwill Ambassador.

The 40-year-old National Award-winning star, who will now work towards gender equality and violence against women and girls in India through his Men Against Rape and Discrimination ( MARD) campaign, had stated that he wanted to call on all males to act as a "catalyst for change," Gulf News reported.

Akhtar, who's become the first man to be chosen as a Goodwill Ambassador for UN, added that he supported UN Women's HeForShe campaign and believed that men and boys could play a huge role in stopping crime against women and girls.

UN Women Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in a statement that they needed inspired and committed men like Akhtar, and was convinced that his passion for the cause would reach the hearts and minds of men and boys even beyond South Asia. (ANI)