Rajneesh Duggal Bares 'Tasty' Back Tat in Sexy New Ad
With his Greek-god-like good looks and Grasim Mr India 2003 title, model Rajneesh Duggal is the kind of guy you want to take home to your mum and dad – especially if your parents are vegetarian. After all, this hunk owes his lean, buff body to bhindis and leafy vegetables. A vegetarian for the last 12 years, it's easy to see why this sultry boy was nominated as one of the Hottest Vegetarians Alive in PETA India's 2004 Web poll.
Now in a sexy new ad campaign for PETA, shot by ace photographer and fellow vegetarian Jatin Kampani, Rajneesh wears his love for greens on his sleeve, or to be more accurate, his super-sexy back. In the ad, Rajneesh sports a brilliant green tattoo of his favourite vegetable – a lady's finger – while appearing next to a message that could not be clearer: "Body by Bhindi".
Rajneesh credits a vegetarian diet with helping him to stay healthy and maintain his "model" perfect body. Unfortunately, too many Indians follow a meat-based, fatty, cholesterol-laden lifestyle – so much so that Indians now have one of the highest rates of heart disease and diabetes in the world. Studies shows that meat consumption is directly connected to rises in cardiovascular diseases, strokes and several types of cancer.
Adopting a vegetarian diet is definitely good for your health, but it is even better for animals! Animals raised for food live in cramped conditions with no fresh air, and many are unable even to turn around, lie down or reach their faeces-covered food. Their only access to fresh air comes when they are loaded onto extremely crowded lorries to be taken to the slaughterhouse, where their throats are slit while they are still conscious. The animals are often killed in full view of each other.
"Everyone who cares about himself or herself, about the environment and especially about animals should choose to be vegetarian. It doesn't take a lot, and the rewards are long lasting and bountiful", says Rajneesh.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg (lettuce) of what Rajneesh has to say about going vegetarian. He recently took time out of working on his first movie (we sense that a Bollywood hero is about to be born!) to share his thoughts with us about everything from speaking up for animals to co-starring with Adah and much, much more:
Why do you think it is important to speak up against cruelty to animals?
It's important to speak up against cruelty to animals because animals can't speak for themselves. I love animals. If I can help them in any way, I would do it any day, any time.
Do you have any companion animals?
I have two dogs, Hugo and Bosco.
How long have you been vegetarian?
I went vegetarian in 1995. I stopped eating [meat] for religious reasons.
What inspired you to go vegetarian?
I used to see chickens cut at butcher shops. It was really gross and made me feel sick. I have even visited slaughterhouses, and the experience was very bad.
Does being vegetarian help you keep fit in the competitive modelling field?
As I'm vegetarian, my intake of vegetables and all sorts of minerals and vitamins is high. As far as pure non-vegetarians go, they have a high intake of fat and protein ... which can be harmful in the long run. I feel fit being vegetarian. At no point do I feel the need to have a non-veg diet.
What's your favourite vegetarian meal?
My favourite meal includes raajma, chole and gobi aaloo.
What's your favourite restaurant for vegetarian food?
In Mumbai, my favourite restaurants include Shiv Sagar, Peshawari at the Maratha Sheraton, Mezo-Mezo and Mangifera for Italian cuisine.
What was shooting the "Body by Bhindi" ad like?
It was very nice. It was a very different concept coming out of bhindis. I would love to contribute towards this cause in any way possible.
KFC kills more than 850 million chickens every year. We have been campaigning for KFC to adopt basic protections for the animals it uses, but it has refused. KFC suppliers cram birds into huge waste-filled factories, breed and drug them to grow so large that they can't even walk, and often break their wings and legs. At slaughter, the birds' throats are slit and they are dropped into tanks of scalding-hot water - often while they are still conscious. It would be illegal for KFC to abuse dogs, cats, pigs or cows in these ways. What is your message to KFC?
I would tell KFC as well as its suppliers to be less cruel to animals.
Do you have any advice for young people who are thinking about going vegetarian?
Vegetarian food is healthier than non-vegetarian food. You are helping mankind because you are not eating animals, not leading to the deaths of innocent animals who can't even speak for themselves. So, let us all strive to be vegetarians!
What would your message be to PETA and its youth division, petaDishoom?
I'm with you. Keep up the good work!
What are your future plans?
I am working on my first movie right now. We have already started shooting it. It should be released in May or June. The movie is called 1920, and it is being directed by Vikram Bhatt. My co-star is Adah.
From avoiding the inexcusable cruelty to animals in factory farms and slaughterhouses to improving your health, skin and physique to helping the environment, going vegetarian is the single best choice you can make for animals, your body, the Earth and your taste buds! Take a cue from this handsome hunk and keep flesh off your plate too!
Going vegetarian is much easier than you think and better for everyone involved. Forward our "Change Everything" e-card to all your friends to educate them about vegetarianism.
