Mumbai, Aug 30 (IANS): Veteran actress and social activist Shabana Azmi, who often raises her voice on gender issues, Saturday began work on a short film on domestic violence.

"First day of filming for #Nasheed Faruqis short film#OUTSIDE on domestic violence. Looking 4ward 2 b directed by a girl I've seen as a child," Shabana posted on her Twitter page.

The actress, along with her godchild Namrata Goyal, run NGO Mijwan Welfare Society (MWS). It aims to empower rural India with a focus on the girlchild and women. Apart from that, she has fearlessly condemned wrong doings against the female gender.

"Outside" is being produced in association with domestic violence charities in US, Britain and India.

The film's plotline as described on its official Facebook page reads: "A young girl witnesses an act of brutality she cannot understand. Meanwhile a mesmerising Hindi film song beguiles her away from harsh reality. But she has seen too much and is driven to repair what has been broken.

"Who will repair her? Will she be left a ghost, unseeing and uncanny, ruined and emptied by what she has witnessed?"

Faruqi is not just directing the short film, but has also penned its script and screenplay. It will also feature Christopher Simpson, Bhasker Patel and Yasmeen Siddiqui.