The list of celebs taking the PadMan Challenge grows… After everyone from Deepika Padukone, to Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma – just a few of the names who have posed holding a sanitary pad, Katrina Kaif is one of the latest to have joined the challenge. Invited by Sui Dhaaga pair Anushka and Varun Dhawan, Katrina posted a photo, writing, “Thank you. Yes, that's a pad in my hand and there's nothing to be ashamed about ... its natural! Period.” She also wished the PadMan team luck.

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Akshay, who has been paired with Katrina in many films including Namastey London, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng, De Dana Dan and Tees Maar Khan, responded with a “Thank you, big hug” and a heart emoticon.  Among the fresh batch of celebs to have taken the PadMan challenge are wrestler Geeta Phogat, whose sporting exploits had featured in Dangal. Athiya Shetty has also posed holding up a pad, thanking Huma Qureshi and chef Kelvin Cheung for tagging her. Richa Chadha did likewise, adding in her caption, “While we’re at it, can we discuss the removal of luxury tax from sanitary napkins? With GST, pads have become 1/3rd more expensive.”

The bearded Vicky Kaushal, Manish Malhotra surrounded by tailoring dummies, Indian cricket coach Ravi Shastri, Bhumi Pednekar, Thugs of Hindostan stunner Fatima Sana Shaikh, Elli Avrram, badminton champ P V Sindhu, producer-photographer Atul Kasbekar, Vaani Kapoor, and even a jacket-clad Karan Johar have all taken up the challenge.

Not everyone is a fan of the challenge that has gone viral, though. Comedian Mallika Dua who had had a run-in with Akshay Kumar during ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’, is making her feelings on it clear through a series of posts on her Instagram stories.
She writes, “Always remember, each time you feel weak, each time you feel lesser than your equals, each time you feel you've been made to feel lesser for no reason and that the fight has just begun...When you feel society and the government have not given you your due, hold up a sanitary pad and post a picture of it on Instagram. You will feel empowered. So empowered. Bye.”