Behind the glamour, the red carpets, and the perfectly curated Instagram grids, Bollywood has a softer side, and it comes with wagging tails, sleepy eyes, and unconditional love. On National Pet Day, it’s great to see how many of the top stars from Bollywood are softies when it comes to their pets.
Take Alia Bhatt; sure, she is a powerhouse performer, but in addition to that, when she is off the screen, one of the most important things in her life is her cat, Edward. Edward is basically a celebrity as well, since you can find him on Alia’s Instagram rather frequently, whether it is in the middle of her doing work or just lying around like he owns the place. These are the types of “candid,” or “real,” photos that fans are looking for from their celebrities.
There’s also Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who has frequently documented her love for her dog, Diana. Diana is not only PeeCee’s pet, but she is practically part of Priyanka’s family. From red carpet appearances to cozy home snapshots, their bond travels continents. The bond they share adds an extra layer of warmth to Priyanka’s already larger-than-life personality, providing fans with proof that even global superstars have their own little comfort zones.
Salman Khan is perhaps one of Bollywood’s biggest animal lovers. His farmhouse is practically a haven for dogs, with Labradors and Mastiffs like Mowgli, Mylove, and Veer being part of his extended family. Much of the time, when people think of Khan, they think of his tough, action-hero image. But multiple clips of him cuddling with and playing with his dogs put a completely different spin on that image and allow us to witness a much softer public persona for Khan.
The younger lot isn’t far behind. Kartik Aaryan’s dog, Katori, has also become an internet sensation; Katori frequently takes centre stage in his owner’s videos, and fans love every bit of it. Varun Dhawan’s many videos with his dog, Joey, have also given his followers a tiny glimpse into his “non-filmy” world.
Even Shraddha Kapoor has a Lhasa Apso named Shyloh; Kriti Sanon has a fluffy Bichon Frise named Disco; and Ananya Panday has a dog named Astro. Each of these stars enjoys all the joys their pets bring them and often shares moments that feel refreshingly normal in an otherwise extraordinary life.
What makes these bonds so compelling isn’t just the cuteness factor; it is how pets humanise celebrities. In an image-driven industry, celebrities’ pets break through the perception of who they are or what they have accomplished.
