Kartik Aaryan: The Love Aaj Kal actor was named India's Hottest Vegetarian, according to votes on the official website of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India in 2018. Kartik said it only took one video of animals suffering and dying in the meat industry to convince him to go vegetarian. "The kindest thing anybody can do for cows, pigs, chickens, and all animals is to stop eating them," he said.
Alia Bhatt: She believes that having vegetarian food is a way to a healthy life and that eating the right kind of food is essential. In support of her lifestyle choice, Alia also took part in a campaign for PETA in 2013 to raise awareness about homeless animals.
In picture: Alia Bhatt enjoys a meal after her success. She wrote, "Happy century to Gangubai & happy vegan burger + fry to Alia"
Parineeti Chopra: She turned vegetarian a year ago. "While I never binged on meat, I have now become a vegetarian. The reason behind doing so is personal and spiritual, and to reap health benefits. Becoming vegetarian is part of a paradigm shift I've noticed within myself. It's something I've been seeking for a while. I'm a believer of energy, and eating meat was not suiting me. I can accomplish my fitness goals faster without it. It is a tastier and healthier way of living," said Pari.
Anushka Sharma: She has been a vegetarian for many years. "Going vegetarian was one of the best decisions I ever made. I have more energy, I feel healthier, and I'm so happy that no animals had to suffer for my meals," Anushka said. She says ever since she adopted vegetarianism, she feels fitter. "I would never tell people what choices to make in their lives, I can only share my own experiences - I turned vegetarian about three years ago and that has been the best thing for me physically and mentally," Sharma said.
Vidya Balan: She has won PETA Asia's Hottest Vegetarian crown in 2010 and often credits her curves to her meat-free diet, saying, "I am a vegetarian, as a result, my metabolism has improved and this is a huge contributor to weight loss."
Aamir Khan: He is a vegan. The decision to eat vegan food was prompted by a video about eating healthy that his wife Kiran Rao showed him. Vegans refrain from using any animal products and by-products such as eggs, dairy, honey, leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetics, and soaps derived from animal products. "At the end of it, I was convinced that vegans are way ahead of non-vegetarians and even vegetarians," Aamir said, who was named the hottest vegetarian of 2015 by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Sonakshi Sinha: She switched to veganism as she believed it had made a difference to her health. She alluded to have reaped the metabolic benefit.
Jacqueline Fernandez: She turned into a vegan so as to do her bit in protecting the environment and safeguarding her health. However, Fernandez, like several fitness enthusiasts, struggled to manage a meal plan that eliminates eggs. Jacqueline said, "I'm not vegan anymore, I'm vegetarian. But, there are days when I crave vegan food because I find it nourishing for my body, and good for my skin. Also, vegan food, like simple dal chawal and sabzi, is easy to access. I switched back to eating eggs because it is an extra food source, and it was tough to manage without it. Also, eggs are in a lot of foods. Eliminating it is harder."
Richa Chadha: Several B-Town celebrities wear their vegetarianism proudly on their sleeves. And Richa Chadha is a staunch veggie, refusing to touch meat even for her film commitments. For her film Fukrey, she had to be shown eating meat. Richa was supposed to gorge on chicken tikkas in one of the sequences. But the actress, being a strict vegetarian, got soya nuggets arranged, which were made to look like cooked meat. The actress is so strict about the eating preferences that she doesn't even touch eggs. It was her unconditional love for animals that made Richa go veggie. She says, "I love animals and I feel a vegetarian diet is the best for any human being."
Shahid Kapoor: The actor credits the author Brian Hines' book Life is Fair for influencing a vegetarian lifestyle choice. Talking about it, Shahid said in a statement, "What has happened now is that I've stopped taking milk and milk products. I am lacto-sensitive. A lot of people are lacto-sensitive. But they don't realise it. I love chicks, pigs, cows, fish, and all the other animals, too. That's why I turned vegetarian." He was named one of the Hottest Vegetarian Celebrities for 2016 by animal rights organisation PETA India. He had reportedly even converted former ladylove Kareena Kapoor Khan into a vegetarian (who has, however, began including fish in diet thanks to hubby Saif Ali Khan) and even had an all-vegetarian menu at his wedding.
Sonam Kapoor: She was named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India's Person of the Year for 2018. Sonam was feted as she sings in praise of vegan eating and because she keeps animal skins out of her handbag line for her fashion brand Rheson, apart from taking other action for the welfare of animals. In 2016, Sonam was named PETA India's Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity, and she earned a Compassionate Business Award from the group a year later for her cruelty-free handbag line.
Amitabh Bachchan: He has been a vegetarian for several years and has been named the Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity three times in the past and even won the crown in PETA Asia's equivalent contest in 2012. Bachchan also won the title of 'Asia's Sexiest Vegetarian' in a contest poll run by PETA Asia.
Tamannaah Bhatia: Tamannaah Bhatia, who once used to devour fish, chicken and meat, turned vegetarian in 2018. She took the sudden decision owing to her 5-year-old pet dog Pebble's ill health. Tamannaah was a hard-core non-vegetarian but at the same time a true animal lover. "Giving up the non-vegetarian lifestyle has always been very challenging. However, I made a conscious decision since Pebbles got really unwell and suffered a severe paralysis attack. Seeing him go through that discomfort, I vowed to give up something I loved so that he could recoup. It was a conscious sacrifice and I wish I had gone green years ago," she said.
Mallika Sherawat: The 'Jalebi Bai' actress adheres to a strict vegetarian diet, which only consists of fruits and vegetables. She prefers water-rich fruits like watermelon and drinks a lot of water and consumes about one and a half kg of limes on a daily basis. Apart from abstaining from meat products, Mallika is also a non-smoker and teetotaller. She has stated that her body and hair stay healthy due to her strict vegetarian diet, her regular yoga sessions and being happy.
Vidyut Jammwal: He turned vegetarian almost two decades ago. The actor, who has a body to die for, says, "After I switched to being a vegetarian, everything in my life changed. Every good thing is happening."
Sonu Sood: In 2009, Sonu Sood shot an ad campaign for PETA. Said the actor, "There's a feeling that you cannot have a great body only on a vegetarian diet. That you have to eat fish and chicken to build the muscles. My experience shows that's not true at all." The nationwide campaign showed off Sonu's toned body partially covered with vegetables and fruit to drive home the point of the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.
Shilpa Shetty Kundra: The actress and fitness enthusiast revealed in July, 2020, that she has accepted vegetarianism completely, saying the switch seemed impossible to her initially. The actress took to social media to share the milestone of her life. Following a vegetarian diet is not only beneficial for animals, but also can actually protect us from heart disease, diabetes, obesity, can improve & also reverse cardiovascular health, and some major diseases. It's the best change for OUR health and the health of the PLANET. "So, to give back to nature as best as I can, here's a choice I've made for myself," said the actress.
Manushi Chillar: She is a strong advocate for vegetarianism and has expressed her views on the subject even on global platforms. Manushi said, "Being a vegetarian has actually been a way of life for me. My parents were vegetarians and while they gave me the choice I never felt like I was missing on something. I've always been a vegetarian and have never felt like I needed to change that." Manushi also said that being a vegetarian has several health benefits. "I do believe vegetarian food is extremely nutritious and has tremendous health benefits in terms of regulating cholesterol, blood pressure, among others. As an animal lover, my core is at peace with this decision and I'm happier being a vegetarian," she added.
Sunny Leone: She regularly volunteers with PETA India to save animals' lives. And she lives by example. Her dog is adopted from a shelter, and you'll never find anything non-vegetarian on her plate.
Kangana Ranaut: She turned into a vegan a few years ago. She had apparently stated veganism was "rooted in the Indian ethos" and added that the plan had made a difference to her health.
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