Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar are PETA India's 2021 Most Beautiful Vegetarians 

Mumbai, December 12, 2021: As 2021 is coming to a close, it’s time for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India to name its Most Beautiful Vegetarian Celebrities of the year – and actors Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar have won the coveted title. The duo will be seen together in their upcoming movie Raksha Bandhan and have recently starred in hit films Sooryavanshi and Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare. 
 
Pednekar became vegetarian over a year ago, sharing that eating meat just “didn’t feel good anymore” – and she hasn’t looked back since. A major motivating factor was her desire to show compassion and humbleness towards other species, tenets she also prioritises with her social justice advocacy campaign Climate Warrior, which raises awareness about environmental conservation and the climate crisis.  
 
“Health matters most,” is exercise enthusiast Kumar’s personal motto, and he relies on protein-packed plant fuel to keep him in top shape. When he’s not hitting the gym, Kumar is speaking up for animals of all species, condemning cruelty on Twitter and stating that he is a “true-blue animal lover”. 
 
“From being one of the fittest actors in Bollywood to leading a climate revolution from her dinner table, Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar are showing everyone how easy it is to stay fit and eco-friendly while saving animals,” says PETA India Director of Celebrity and Public Relations Sachin Bangera. “PETA India is recognising them for being beautiful inside and out.” 
 
At slaughterhouses, animals are typically killed in full view of one another and many are dismembered while they’re still conscious. In addition to causing suffering on a massive scale, animal agriculture is a leading cause of water pollution, deforestation, and greenhouse-gas emissions, and a United Nations report concluded that a global shift towards animal-free eating is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change. Doctors today tell us people who avoid animal-derived products are less likely to be afflicted with heart disease, diabetes, and cancer – all of which are widespread health problems in India. 
 
Past winners of the title, which until 2020 was called the Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity Award, include Narendra Modi, Shraddha Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Manushi Chhillar, Sunil Chhetri, Anushka Sharma, Kartik Aaryan, Vidyut Jammwal, Shahid Kapoor, Rekha, and Amitabh Bachchan.