Machine learning (ML) entails self-learning via data usage and experience [1]. It requires no human intervention to uncover patterns in data [2]. Recent work in this area includes classification of liver tumours [3]; extraction of clinical attributes from breast cancer dataset [4]; prediction of student performance [5]; accurate recognition of complex physical human activity acquired using body-worn sensors [6]. Recommender system (RS) is also an exciting application of ML for suggesting relevant items to a user [7]. ML driven recommendation engines [8] have become ubiquitous in the last few decades. Intelligent web engines have crept in everywhere, recommending everything from movies, songs, food, social media posts to anything conceivable. Unconsciously, everybody is following these recommendations. The apparent reasons are convenience and satisfaction; else, dealing with profusion of information on the web is quite cumbersome. *Author for correspondence Famous online service providers like Facebook, Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, and LinkedIn use recommendation engines to boost sales and enhance customer satisfaction by utilising data filtering techniques of underlying RS [9]. RS uses traditional filtering techniques [10, 11] viz. collaborative filtering (CF), content-based filtering (CbF), demographic filtering (DF), and knowledgebased filtering (KF), along with hybrid filtering techniques that combine benefits of former techniques [12]. Liao et al. have found that users trust systems that use CF for recommendation over those using CbF or DF and have given pointers for solving cold-start problems [13]. CF is the most sought-after technique that collects users" preferences and predicts their interests. However, unfortunately it suffers from cold-start problems (non-availability of preference information for new user/item). Recent research points towards the inclusion of user demographic attributes (age, gender and location) to abate these problems [14]. Recently, González et al. have also utilized demographic information to evaluate the bias and unfairness of recommendations given to the minority groups [15].