Channel [V] were hosts for the party. Following the ceremony, a giant birthday cake was cut by John Abraham, Raveena Tandon Thadani, Hement Trevedi and Anju Manendroo who celebrates her birthday on the same day as PETA India. PETA international founder Ms. Ingrid Newkirk also attended the event.

When PETA India started out in January 2000, they were just two people opening the Indian branch of an international NGO, but they are now identified with all things “animal” in India, with people calling them from across India as well as from other countries to ask questions, offer support and report cases of animal abuse.

A few of PETA India’s highlights from its first eight years are:

A humane education program called Compassionate Citizen, starring John Abraham and Jackie Shroff has been shown in schools to over a 100,000 students as well as on national Indian TV.

PETA India has facilitated the rescue of over 50 lions and tigers from circuses, birds from pet sellers and kept captive in people’s houses, turtles and tortoises being sold illegally, monkeys, lemurs, cats, donkeys, cows, bears and jackals amongst other animals.

Court cases which have set precedents in how animals are treated in zoos, in slaughter and on television.

Ads from celebrities including Anil Kumble, Pundit Ravi Shankar, Mahima Choudhary, Shilpa Shetty, Ameesha Patel, Aditi Govitrikar whose now infamous lettuce gown ad was used on the cover for Femina.

John Abraham says ‘I do not endorse shoe brands because they are predominantly leather”. ‘I have been with PETA since 1999 which makes it 9 years.’ ‘We all love animals – not only me all the members of PETA, all the people around here – Yana, Hemant, Raveena, Anju Mahendroo and Anuradha – we all really love animals’.

Raveena says’. All animals and plants have been created for a reason. According to me, torturing any animal for sport or luxury is a sin. For generations we have been talking about saving the earth. This is why I am associated with an organization like PETA so that I can spread awareness about this.’

Hemant Trevedi ‘ I have turned vegetarian, I do not use leather or even Merino wool in my creations.’