Alia Bhatt Has Been Recognised As PETA India's 2021 'Person Of the Year'

Acknowledging—and applauding—her persistent efforts towards animal welfare, PETA India has named Alia Bhatt as their 2021 'Person of the Year'. Besides making a strong case for animal-friendly fashion and standing in support of strays in need, in 2017, the actor launched an ecological initiative named CoExist to raise awareness about the welfare of street animals. In fact, in 2013, she took part in a campaign for PETA to raise widespread awareness about homeless animals. 

 

 

 

 

 

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"Alia Bhatt is not only helping to advance vegan fashion but (is) also encouraging the next generation to be kind to animals. Alia doesn’t hesitate to speak up, whether she's relying on her fans to adopt a dog or cat, or calling for action on crimes against animals," says Sachin Bangera, PETA India Director of Celebrity and Public Relations. Apart from advocating for strays, the actor, an avid cat lover, homes two felines, Edward and Juniper. 

Sharing her vision with the world through CoExist, the actor stated, "I believe that each one of us has a personal responsibility to our planet. And, since animals, plants, oceans have no voice of their own, we should speak up for them as well. CoExist is a program I've set up with a vision that man lives in harmony with animals and nature." Earlier this year, Alia also launched her vegan kidswear line, Ed-a-Mamma, which won her the 2021 PETA India fashion award. 

 

 

 

 

 

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In addition, she has invested in Phool—the company behind Fleather—which produces eco-friendly, vegan leather from the enormous amount of flower waste from temples and mosques, being dumped into River Ganga. "Lots of friends asked me why I invested in an incense company. I say, what if it's an incense company that can save the planet? Phool incense is made from recycled flowers, so it is carbon-free and helps keep our rivers clean. Phool also makes bio-leather from recycled flowers and this 'Fleather' is a humane alternative to leather," she wrote. 

 

 

 

 

 

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The past recipients of PETA India's 'Person of the Year' Award include:

1. Dr Shashi Tharoor, for supporting Compassionate Citizen, PETA India's humane education programme for children, as well as other education on animal protection.

2. Former Supreme Court Justice KS Panicker Radhakrishnan, for the landmark judgement against the use of bulls in performances.

3. Cricketer Virat Kohli, for calling for the release of an abused elephant and harsher penalties for animal abusers.

4. Comedian Kapil Sharma, for encouraging people to adopt stray dogs.

5. Actors John Abraham, Anushka Sharma, Sunny Leone, R. Madhavan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Hema Malini, and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, for helping animals in various ways.