Nine-year-old fan inspires Abhishek Bachchan

New Delhi, Jan 20 (IANS) Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan was impressed by the endeavour of nine-year-old Aishwarya Sharma, the youngest ever to file a Right to Information (RTI) query for removal of a garbage disposal site in front of her school.

Abhishek met his young fan in the capital during the CNN IBN Citizen Journalist awards ceremony Wednesday night, where Aishwarya along with 16 other people were awarded for their courageous endeavours that have brought a change in the system.

'First of all, I would like to say that she (Aishwarya) is as beautiful as her namesake and I am proud of her. She is far more courageous than we are and is an inspiration for all of us,' said Abhishek, who was the chief guest at the programme.

A class three student, Aishwarya from Lucknow had filed an RTI query for removal of a garbage disposal site in front of her school. Remarkably, her initiative resulted in the cease of garbage dumping and a public library has been constructed in that place.

However, when she was called on stage, Aishwarya looked more excited about taking Abhishek's autograph rather than accepting her trophy.

The young girl even told him that she was a huge fan of his wife and actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, to which he candidly replied: 'I am also a great fan, but of this Aishwarya (pointing towards the girl).'

The Bachchan family is known for its generosity, a characteristic which was quite evident in Abhishek during the programme whether it was helping the elderly winners walk up and down the stage after presenting them with the award or touching their feet for blessings or showing affection towards young awardees.

At the end of the ceremony, Abhishek said: 'I feel very blessed and humbled to lead the life that I do after knowing the kind of troubles people go through but at the same time the positivity with which they deal with troubles is very motivating.'

'Their zest for life is infectious. The kind of initiatives that these people from very young to adults is very inspirational. Whatever I can do in my capacity, I pledge today I would love to help in whichever way possible,' he added.

The awards ceremony would be telecast Jan 26.