Lakadbaggha's Anshuman Jha: Being an animal lover and eating meat is hypocritical

Actor and producer Anshuman Jha is gearing up for the release of his action-thriller Lakadbaggha, which revolves around a kidnapped striped hyena. The actor, being an animal lover, says that eating meat eater while being an animal lover is nothing but hypocrisy.

Anshuman said in an interactive media session during the trailer launch of his film, "I think it is big-time hypocrisy to be an animal lover and eat meat. I am ready to stick my neck out and say that. Three years ago, I called out my own hypocrisy."

Sharing a personal moment of realisation, the actor went on to share, "In 2020, I lost my mother and then the lockdown was imposed. There were a lot of realisations for all of us, and I was also going through the process. Being born into a Maithil Brahmin family, fish was a part of our staple diet. So, I used to eat fish every day."

"One day," the actor continued, "I was sitting with my pet dog and felt that if I really love my dog, then I should stop eating meat, because we should be respectful to every living being. Now, obviously, it also has a lot to do with conditioning and greed. I was conditioned to eat fish every day because that was normal in my family. But then it is a lot to do with how we are educating ourselves." 

However, he also believes that everyone has the right to choose their food habits. "Having said that, I think it is a matter of choice. I feel that eating meat and loving animals is hypocritical, but everyone can make their own choices. I haven't eaten meat for the last three years and my wife is a vegan; she cooks amazing vegan food," said Anshuman with a smile.  

Lakadbaggha, directed by Victor Banerjee, also stars Ridhi Dogra, Milind Soman and Paresh Pahuja. It is releasing in theatres on January 13.