Mumbai, September 11 (Daily Kiran) : Former Union Minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi has launched ‘Cinekind’ to promote animal welfare and sensitivity in Indian cinema. She urged Bollywood celebrities who frequently advocate for animal rights to adopt veganism themselves.
Gandhi stated that actors should genuinely stand by their beliefs. “Actors should speak in alignment with their true selves,” she emphasized.
When questioned about animal cruelty during film shoots and the industry’s commitment to animal welfare, Gandhi acknowledged that such issues were more prevalent in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. She noted that she collaborated with the government to establish a law mandating that any film involving animals must be presented to the Animal Welfare Board of India for approval.
“This initiative began in 2000, leading to significant improvements within the film industry,” she explained. “As a result, very few films now depict or involve cruelty towards animals. When you watch a film today, it must state, ‘No animals were harmed during the making of this film.’ Practices like keeping birds in cages or throwing animals from heights have been eradicated. The situation will only improve from here.”
Gandhi asserted that no film can now violate these laws. She remarked, “The censor board has become vigilant, ensuring compliance. However, there are still one or two films that manage to slip through where animal cruelty occurs. This is unacceptable, as it’s not just about the treatment of a single animal.”
Concluding her remarks, Gandhi highlighted the broader implications of cinema on societal attitudes. “Films significantly influence and change public perception. When audiences see a major star confining a bird in a cage, they may begin to emulate that behavior. If someone mistreats an animal on screen, viewers may accept it as normal. Therefore, such portrayals must be avoided.”
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