After hearing from PETA India that elephants used for films, televisions, advertisements and other content are forcibly separated from their families, endure abusive training methods, and chained when not in use, 24 film and other content production companies have signed PETA India’s Elephant Freedom Pledge, promising to leave real elephants out of their productions. They include those associated with John Abraham, Nikkhil Advani, R Balki and Gauri Shinde, Daggubati Suresh Babu, Farah Khan, Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni, Arfi Laamba, Dia Mirza, Pooja Bhatt, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, Sunny Leone and Daniel Weber, Gaurav Madan, Kamakhya Narayan Singh and others.
Revolutionizing Entertainment: CGI and Mechanical Elephants
Instead of using live elephants on set, PETA India encourages the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI), visual effects, and innovative mechanical elephants. These elephants are remarkably lifelike and are already used by more than 20 temples in India thanks to PETA India and other patrons. They can flap their ears, swish their tails, lift their trunks, spray water, and even carry riders.
Elephants Are Chained, Beaten, and Poked with Sharp Objects
As seen in this video, elephants forced into a life of servitude are often kidnapped from their families in their jungle homes as babies, kept almost constantly chained, and trained through violence and intimidation using ankushes—hooked iron rods. The stress of being threatened with weapons and subjected to bright lights and noise can cause elephants to lash out, with deadly consequences.
Elephant Freedom Pledge Signatories Include:
- John Abraham – JA Entertainment
- Pooja Bhatt – Fish Eye Network
- Dia Mirza – One India Stories LLP
- Daggubati Suresh Babu – Suresh Productions
- Farah Khan
- Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni – SVF Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
- Arfi Laamba – Bombay Berlin Film Productions, LLP
- R Balki and Gauri Shinde – Hope Productions
- Sunny Leone and Daniel Weber – Suncity Media and Entertainment
- Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal – Pushing Buttons Studios
- Nikkhil Advani and Monisha Advani – Emmay Entertainment
- Rajan Shahi – Director’s Kut Productions
- Onir – Anticlock Films
- Puja Bedi – Tridev Entertainment
- Kabir Sadanand – FROG Unlimited
- Mita Vasisht – MMV Films
- Sani Ghose Ray – Acropoliis Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
- Niharica Raizada – Raizada Entertainments
- Kirti Kulhari
- Amin Khan – Purple Focus Pvt. Ltd.
- Payal Sodhi – PlanBWorks Entertainment
- Vivek Pant
- Gaurav Madan
- Kamakhya Narayan Singh
In 2022, PETA India honored Fish Eye Network director Pooja Bhatt with its Compassionate Film Production Company Award after making history as the first film director in India to pledge to never use any live animals. Director Richie Mehta won PETA India’s Tech, Not Terror Award for using cutting-edge CGI instead of live animals in his series Poacher about an elephant ivory-poaching ring in India.
Do you want to help elephants?
Join us in putting an end to the use of elephants used for performances.
