Smiling beautifully into the camera next to the words "I Am Hema Malini, and I Am Vegetarian", iconic actor, politician and long-time animal defender Hema Malini stars in a brand-new ad for her friends at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India. The release of the studding ad, which was shot by ace photographer Dabboo Ratnani, coincides with Vegetarian Awareness Month.

"Being vegetarian is the best road to good health", says Malini, who has appeared in more than 150 films in a stellar career spanning four decades. "Knowing that my food choices are helping the planet and animals, too, makes me happy."

Malini is one of the most successful female film stars in the history of Indian cinema. She is also a member of India's Bharatiya Janata political party and now devotes much of her time to charitable and social ventures.


This isn't the first time that Malini has helped PETA help animals. In 2009, she wrote on PETA's behalf to the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner urging him to ban cruel and dangerous horse carriages from the city's busy streets. Also, following Malini's plea to the government to end the cruel "sport" of jallikattu, the Ministry of Environment and Forests issued a notification that bulls can no longer be used as "performing animals". Malini was also named PETA's Person of the Year in 2011 for her animal-protection work.

Every vegetarian saves the lives of many animals every year. Also, vegetarians are less likely to be afflicted with leading killers, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer - all of which are major health problems in India. And raising animals for food is a leading cause of water pollution, land degradation and the greenhouse-gas emissions responsible for climate change.