Actress Urmila Matondkar poses as she attends a function in Mumbai.
To propagate the message further, the director plans to gather support for the cause through a pledge. “Starting August 15, along with the film’s cast, we will ask students from over 1000 schools to send letters in support of the cause, which will then be sent to the Prime Minster’s office. We will use the internet and the social media to reach out to as many people as possible, so that the petition reaches the PM’s office by Wildlife Week (in October),” Nikhil says.
He also has plans to take one of these students to meet the PM. “It will all depend on whether we get permission for a meeting,” says Nikhil.
Talking about the characters in the film, the director explains, “We aren’t trying to humanise the animals. So, the talking parrot from South Mumbai (with Akshaye’s voice) is the only one who can talk to humans. He even thinks that he is human.”
The World Wildlife Fund and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have watched the film and appreciated it. “They said what we have been trying to do for last 50 years has been achieved through this film,” concludes Nikhil.
Celeb Charity hotlist
* Amitabh Bachchan supports tiger conservation.
* Shilpa Shetty raised a voice against animal abuse in the circus.
* Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wrote an open letter for the protection of black rhinos.
* John Abraham and Madhuri Dixit Nene both support elephant conservation. John also fights against indiscriminate slaughtering of pigs in Goa.
* Jacqueline Fernandez is against the use of horses in
public places for
entertainment.
* Raageshwari Loomba uses her status to promote the
protection and adoption of stray dogs.