India's Hidden Plague

Hollywood superstar Ashley Judd is on a mission. Far from her glamorous life in Hollywood, she is on a journey to Mumbai, India in her role as Global Ambassador for Youth AIDS and Population Services International (PSI) Board Member. Mumbai is a city of shocking contrasts, where extreme poverty sits next to huge wealth, the poor next to millionaires. It’s a place where HIV is rife. Ashley’s mission becomes a rollercoaster of emotions as she meets the people for whom AIDS is a frightening reality. As they tell their stories candidly and openly, Ashley hopes to take their voices and experiences back to a world that might take notice. She meets people such as Kausar, a gritty single mother of two, now helping others that have been affected; Geeta, who was kidnapped and sold into the sex trade and many others. All of them are trying to cope everyday with this deadly virus. Through this emotionally overwhelming story, Ashley tries to come to terms with the fragile way of life and the dire consequences resulting from the instability that the forgotten people of India face daily. Lead by her heart and guided by the voices of those she meets along the way, Ashley takes her experiences to influential thinkers and policy makers to raise awareness and funds for PSI’s HIV programs throughout India. In her mission, Ashley recruits the help of fellow Bollywood stars like Shahrukh Khan, Sushmita Sen and Akshay Kumar, all of whom want to play their part in this war against AIDS.