Aishwarya to join Madonna, Beyonce in London for charity

After the extravaganza Cannes event, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
and her husband Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan will join international singing stars Madonna

and Beyonce for a mega charity concert to be held next month in London.  Ash, who is at the Cannes film festival with her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan will be joined by her husband for the noble cause, Chime for Change to be held on June 1. Chime for Change is a charity which works towards raising funds and awareness for women's rights and empowerment around the world.

"I am really happy that so many amazing artists and presenters have come together to support Chime For Change. Our goal is to have a great time together while we unite and strengthen the voices of girls and women around the world," said Beyonce, concert director and co-founder of Chime for Change.

For the first time buyers will be given the opportunity to select which of the many projects of Chime For Change would they like to support. Their ticket money will be given to that particular deed. Chime for Change works for 120 projects supporting girls and women globally. "Sixty per cent of the children in the world not in school are girls! Two-thirds of the world's illiterate are women! I do not accept this. We need to change this and we will change this," said Madonna, who will not be performing but is one of the celebrity presenters alongside Indian actresses Rai and Freida Pinto, as well as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former British Prime Minister Gordon and wife Sarah Brown, and Hollywood star Jessica Chastain.

The four hour concert will be promoted by well-known UK promoter Harvey Goldsmith, behind some of the world's biggest global charity concerts such as Live Aid and Live 8.
"We are thrilled that these amazing people are giving their time and support. The stature of our artists and presenters proves just how important this campaign is and we hope that the concert will galvanise the public to support the many important projects," he said.

The Chime For Change initiative is lead by Marianne Pearl, the wife of former Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl - held captive in Pakistan and beheaded by Al Qaeda in 2002. As managing editor of Chime For Change, she will also fly to London from Spain for the show with her 11-year-old son Adam.