Deepika Padukone, youth icon and Bollywood actress, posted an emotional message with the brilliantly conceived and beautifully shot Nike ad that has taken the web by storm.
Her message on Facebook read:
When I was growing up my father said to me, “To be the best, always remember the three D’s – Discipline, Dedication and Determination. Follow your heart. Do what you are passionate about.”
Sport has taught me how to handle failure. It has also taught me how to handle success. It has kept me grounded. It has taught me humility.
Two years ago I struggled with depression. I was sinking. I almost gave up. But it was the athlete in me that gave me the strength to fight and never ever give up!
And so I want to say to every girl and every boy and every woman and every man…play a sport…because it changed my life…and it will change yours too!
Sport has taught me how to survive! It has taught me how to fight! It has made me unstoppable!
See the video here.
The viral video, which features scores of Indian female athletes like hockey player Rani Rampal, footballer Jyoti Ann Burrett and cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandana and Shubhlakshmi Sharma, comes right on time.
Along with Sania Mirza, who went on national television to state that it is unfortunate that women athletes are not considered “settled” in life even after they have overachieved themselves, the sportswomen in the advert make a statement about the changing attitudes of women, who are drawing more and more empowerment and nourishment from physical acts of strength and grit.
#tadaring girls!
(Featured Image courtesy: www.firstpost.com)
