New Delhi: Expressing concern over a surge in cases of domestic violence amid coronavirus lockdown, team India skipper Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma among other celebrities joined hands to urge people to stand up and fight for themselves by reporting abuse.

In a video, shared by Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma on their Instagram handles, celebs like Rohit Sharma, Madhuri Dixit Nene, actor Rahul Bose, Farhan Akhtar and filmmaker Karan Johar can be seen urging people to stand up and break the silence by reporting abuse if they are a survivor or witness to domestic violence.

"If you have been a victim, witness or a survivor of the domestic violence, please report," Virat Kohli captioned the video which was also shared by his wife and star actress Anushka Sharma on Instagram.


The initiative is curated by Akshara Centre in collaboration with Special Cell for Women and Children.

"Let's put a lockdown on domestic violence...if you are a survivor of domestic violence, report it. .. It's the time to stand up and break the silence. If you are a witness to domestic violence ...please report," the stars said in the video.

News agency PTI reported on April 18, to help women facing domestic violence amid the COVID-19 lockdown in India, more than 50 helplines have been started all across the nation.

"Fifty-two helplines have been started in different parts of the country to help women facing domestic violence during the lockdown," PTI quoted a home ministry official as saying.