Project Nanhi Kali returned with the seventh season of Proud Fathers for Daughters after two challenging years of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s charity event was held on November 12 and 13, 2022, at the World Trade Center, Cuffe Parade in Mumbai. 

The conceptualisation

Proud Fathers for Daughters was conceptualised with the desire to contribute to a larger national cause of bringing about a change in the mindset and attitude towards the girl child in India. Over the last six seasons, the fundraiser event has helped educate over 2,500 underprivileged young girls in India. Proud Fathers for Daughters 2022 ended on a successful note. The seventh edition of Proud Fathers for Daughters has raised funds to help educate 358 Nanhi Kalis.

Celebrity photographers join the line-up

This year, the event included a line-up of leading celebrity photographers - Atul Kasbekar, Colston Julian, Prasad Naik, Rafique Sayed, Jaideep Oberoi, Tarun Vishwa, and Tejal Patni - who volunteered their time to the cause. While participants were able to block a slot for a value of INR 10,000, which will support the education of a girl for an entire year, they could also donate over and above the registration fee to support more girls.

The importance of education and empowerment

Education and empowerment of the girl child are the pillars that can lead to and drive positive change in society. With an aim to have a transformative effect and diminish the discrimination towards girl children in patriarchal society, Proud Fathers for Daughters celebrates the bond between father and daughter and gives people an opportunity to be clicked by some of India’s most celebrated photographers.

Famous father-daughter duos lend their support

Shatrughan Sinha and his daughter Sonakshi Sinha, Anil and Sonam Kapoor, Rishi and Ridhima Kapoor, Javed Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, Sachin and Sara Tendulkar, Leander and Aiyana Paes, Arjun Rampal and daughters Myra and Mahikaa, and Alyque Padamsee and daughters Raell and Shazahn Padamsee are among the leading celebrity father-daughter duos who have lent their support to this initiative in preceding editions.

Several other renowned names also came forward and lent their support to the cause this year, including Joint Commissioner of Police Vishwas Nangre Patil, celebrities from the Indian film industry Suneil Shetty, Vidya Balan, Abhishek Bachchan, Esha Gupta, Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde, Boney Kapoor and sportsmen Suresh Raina and Mahesh Bhupathi.