Raveena Tandon joins PETA India as Honorary Director, Rupali Ganguly wins Humanitarian honour – Beyond Bollywood

Bollywood actress continues her long standing association with animal welfare group. Anupamaa actress Ganguly earns praise for her fight against ending horse carriages in Kolkata.

By Our Correspondent

Raveena Tandon, the National Award-winning actor who’s been quietly fighting for animals for over 20 years, was named PETA India’s honorary director last weekend at their victory celebrations in Mumbai. The event at Willingdon Sports Club also saw Rupali Ganguly from popular soap Anupamaa pick up the Humanitarian Award for her work pushing to end horse-drawn carriages in Kolkata and promoting shelter adoptions for dogs and cats. A vegan priest from Irinjadapilly Sree Krishna Temple, Rakumar P.I., got the Compassionate Leadership Award for bringing a mechanical elephant into his temple, a first for any place of worship.

In Delhi at The Park last week, Jeeveshu Ahluwalia earned the Digital Activism Award for urging people to adopt community strays, while designer Rahul Luthra of Raabta by Rahul was celebrated as Progressive Designer for ditching feathers and using plant leather. PETA India’s Poorva Joshipura handed out the honours, and Ingrid Newkirk shared some deep thoughts on animal compassion.

Raveena’s no stranger to this, she’s meat-free, gifted a life-sized mechanical elephant to a Karnataka temple with Rasha Thadani, called out a leopard killing in a village, spoken against exotic skins trade cruelty, starred in anti-breeder campaigns, backed their Compassionate Citizen program for kids, and even rescued street kittens in Mumbai herself. She was PETA India’s Person of the Year in 2025 too. “I’m thankful for this honour and committed to making the world kinder for all species,” she said simply.

Rupali added, “Animals are voiceless innocents who need us, adoption saves lives, and compassion builds better lives for everyone.”

PETA’s Sachin Bangera called them all “animal liberation powerhouses” leading by example. Raveena follows John Abraham as the second honorary director here, joining global names like Pamela Anderson abroad. Rupali’s in great company with past winners like Sonu Sood and Hema Malini.