MUMBAI - Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan used a cancer-awareness programme to call upon electorates to cast their ballot in the upcoming general elections.

“I was being told that as per a statistic out of 250 million young urban voters in the last election 16 per cent voted. And I think that a terrible figure. We keep on saying that we want change and want to improve our conditions. By casting votes, we wan bring that change. I believe that all youth who are eligible should go out and vote. Its’ your birthright,” he said.

As per media reports, Bachchan along with some other Bollywood’s biggest names are working on a short film that will urge first-time voters in India to cast their ballot.

The 33-year-old Bachchan also felicitated six women out of thousands who drove 250 kilometers from Mumbai to Lavasa on March 29 in order to spread awareness about breast cancer.

“I think the first and the most important step is to raise awareness. Once you have awareness, you have to go and tell these people that this is a disease if detected early can be treated. There’s nothing to be scared of,” he said.

Most women are diagnosed at an incurable stage with breast cancer, due to lack of awareness.

The occurrence of breast cancer is blamed mostly on the fast paced lifestyle that women are leading today, which leaves them with little or no time for themselves, neglecting their health.

Worldwide approximately eleven million new cases of cancer are diagnosed every year and around seven million people die of the dreaded disease. (ANI)