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A
different act
Some
TV celebs are seen only on the telly, inches deep in pancake.
Others are spotted on page 3, vigorously working the party
circuit. And then, there are those few who spend their spare
time working for those that you and me wouldn't spare a second
glance to!
Anju
Mahendroo feeding the dogs |
Anju Mahendroo
and Poonam Narula along with animal rights activist Bhavin
Gathani formed the Animal Lovers Association Society (ALAS)
a year ago to protect and create awareness of animal rights.
Anju, who is soon to make her appearance in Swaarth
on Zee feeds 300 dogs a day in Juhu. "I love animals.
I have 12 dogs in my house. I wanted to channelise my energy
in caring for them and protecting them," she says. She
is the trustee of ALAS and is also associated with NGOs like
Karuna and People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
"I strive to ensure that the ailing dogs in my vicinity
do not go without medication when they are ill," says
Anju. "The unfortunate part is that medicines or an ambulance
are not easily available for these animals," she expresses
her concern.
Shilpa
Saklani |
Poonam
Narula is hardly the vamp she portrays in Kkusum. She
joined in the formation of ALAS because of her undying love
for animals. "I used to call up NGOs asking for their
aid to tend to a sick dog when I saw one. But often I was
told that the ambulance was not free. This annoyed me and
led me to take the onus to set up an NGO myself," she
explains.
The pretty
Shilpa Saklani, Ganga of Kyunki..... is an animal lover
too. She says, "I have plenty of dogs who shelter below
my building. I love to feed them and play with them."
Whenever she comes across a dog that is not feeling well or
is suffering, she calls up ALAS for their aid to nurse the
dog. Spending time with these dogs is a routine with Shilpa.
"I do not have to set aside time or make any extra effort
to tend to them," she says, expressing her own desire
to set up a big shelter for stray animals.
Sukanya
Kulkarni |
Jaya Bhattarchya,
pompous Payal in Kyunki... has three dogs and a cat
at home. She even had a goat called Bambi. Her pets are very
dear to her. Yet, she finds time to feed dogs on the street.
Jaya wishes to build an animal hospital when she has the money
and manpower to build one too.
Kunika
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Actresses
too set their foot on social activism. Veteran actress Sukanya
Kulkarni, last seen in Tumhari Disha on Zee TV runs
a personality development workshop for small children and
middle aged women in Mumbai. "I guide the small children
to become responsible human beings. Today, one comes across
professionally successful people, but civilized and sensitive
people are becoming rare species."
She tries
to imbibe culture in the children through drama and theatre.
Her workshops have proved to be of help to make the children
realise their responsibilities. Having worked with children,
she developed the desire to help the home makers and started
'Samvadini'. "There are some women who feel lonely and
neglected during their middle age. I extended the personality
development workshop for the benefit of such women."
The confidence that these women have developed has motivated
her to consider holding this workshop for the corporate sector
and suggests introduction in the school curriculum as well.
Kunika,
seen last in Kahanii Ghar Ghar Kii, and Lipstick
is involved in creating AIDS awareness since 16 years. She
is actively involved with an NGO called CHIPS (Children in
Pain). She believes celebrities can make a difference, because
they have a fan following. They can lead the crowd to live
meaningful lives. "Social work is something that should
come from the heart," she firmly believes.
Sukanya
Kulkarni's picture from marathiworld.com
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