PETA requests IIFA, Bachchan to promote vegetarian food

September 23rd, 2009 MUMBAI - Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who is currently in London, is missing non-vegetarian delicacies, especially seafood, since she is maintaining a pure vegetarian diet for nine days as part of the ongoing Navratri celebrations. This is the only time in the year that I turn vegetarian for the whole nine days and fast on the last (day).

September 10th, 2009 MUMBAI - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has awarded biscuit maker Parle Products and ad agency Everest Brand Solutions for making a mint ad that highlights the plight of animals who are incarcerated at zoos. The animal rights organisation has commended the two companies for the "Xhale Mint" commercial, with a Glitterbox Award - given every year by PETA for exceptional animal friendly advertisements.

July 23rd, 2009 Asin missed a chance to join the league that includes big names like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Manisha Koirala and Madhavan due to her love for non-vegetarian dishes. The big brands are running behind the pretty actress to cash-in on her success both in South and North regions.

July 19th, 2009 LONDON - Singer Shakira says that she gave up eating meat after she was given four chickens to look after. "I named them and they became very close to me.

July 7th, 2009 CHENNAI J - "Ghajini" fame actress Asin Thottumkal has turned down animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) request to promote vegetarianism. She said she is a hardcore non-vegetarian and, therefore, it would be unfair to accept the offer.

July 7th, 2009 MUMBAI - Bollywood's popular couple - Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai - has been approached by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to create awareness about the plight of lovebirds through a special photo shoot. "As India's most famous 'lovebirds', we believe that you are uniquely suited to help bring attention to the plight of these smart and sensitive birds.

June 13th, 2009 MACAU - Bollywood veteran Rajesh Khanna was at his dramatic best when he received the life time achievement trophy at the International Indian Film Academy(IIFA) awards here from his "Anand" co-star Amitabh Bachchan late Saturday night. Khanna, who featured in hits like "Aradhana", "Kati Patang" and "Amar Prem" in his four-decade long career, kept referring to Big B as "babumoshai", in the manner in which he addressed Bachchan in their 1971 heartwarming hit "Anand".

June 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - After Kareena Kapoor, actor Shahid Kapoor has been voted the sexiest vegetarian in Asia by a new poll conducted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The star says that his selection has broken the myth that "fitness cannot be achieved by eating vegetarian food".

June 11th, 2009 MACAU - Despite his aversion to the term "Bollywood", screen legend Amitabh Bachchan had no hesitation in commending a book bearing the title "Bollywood in Posters" at the start of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards weekend here Thursday. Film historian S.M.M.

June 11th, 2009 MACAU - Three child stars of the multiple Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire" stole the limelight as they walked the green carpet at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event with panache. The child stars, Tanay Chheda, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar and Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, sent the paparazzi into overdrive, clicking away furiously as the trio walked the green carpet with great confidence on the opening day of the IIFA here Thursday evening.

June 11th, 2009 MACAU - Terrorism in an unnamed but well-developed country was now being defined in terms of pre and post the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards being hosted there, according to IIFA director Sabbas Joseph. Speaking at the launch of IIFA here Thursday, Joseph did not name the country, but it could easily be deduced that he was referring to Britain, where the IIFA Awards have been held twice.

June 11th, 2009 MACAU - Oscar winning sound engineer Resul Pookutty says he wants to help a "technically talented student" and has decided to sponsor one student every year. Pookutty, who graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune 15 years ago, will sponsor a student of the institute.

June 11th, 2009 MACAU - Australian singer Peter Andre, who is here for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, is bowled over by Amitabh Bachchan's baritone and told the megastar that he is "amazing". "I was unbelievably impressed with some of the speeches people gave.

June 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Alleging abusive treatment of chickens by Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in India, animal rights group PETA Thursday distributed balloons urging customers to boycott the popular fast food chain. Activists of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) dressed up as chickens and distributed balloons saying 'Boycott KFC' outside a Connaught Place outlet.

June 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Brand ambassador of International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA), Amitabh Bachchan, said on Tuesday that the aim of the organization while choosing a new location each time was meant to spread the Bollywood awareness across the globe. "The idea really is to be as expansive as possible to reach various parts of the universe and go places which are relatively unheard of as far as Indian cinema is concerned and be able to carry our cinema there," said Amitabh Bachchan in a conference in New Delhi.