Rupali Ganguly has a soft corner for animals. She says taking care of fur babies keeps her sane. So even while shooting, amid her busy schedule, the Anupamaa actress ensures that strays on the set are fed and looked after.

“My work gives me the privilege to have people around me; they help me take care of the fur babies on set. We prepare food in my office and get it to the set. Ek balti bhar ke khana aata hai. It’s all about managing responsibilities effectively; if you want to do something, you find ways to do it. Caring for these animals is not just a part of my life; it is my life. It shapes my identity and makes me who I am,” she tells us.

Rupali is a firm advocate for adopting pets. She says, “Adopt, don’t shop. We have always picked up abandoned fur babies. I used to have seven at one point in time. Even now, when my Radha (her pet) passed away, I adopted Kachori, and then Samosa. These two have joined my Kishmish and Masti at my Ramnagar cottage. On my set, I have 14 babies. I can’t function without them around me; they keep me sane.”

The actress says instilling compassion for animals in children is crucial. “Some parents hesitate in letting their kids near dogs. They say, ‘Kaat lega, paas matt jana’. Par aise nahi hota hai. Bachchon ko animals se bhaagna matt sikhaiye. I let my son play with all the animals. He plays with stray dogs and cats. Mera bachcha squirrel utha kar le ataa hai, gaay ko gale lagata hai, he is an animal person. Every parent should teach their children to love and show kindness towards animals,” she adds.

Emphasizing the urgent need for stricter laws against animal cruelty, Rupali says, “A person who is cruel to animals is bound to have a twisted mentality. Unfortunately, our country lacks strict laws against animal cruelty. It is a pressing issue that needs immediate attention. We are still operating under outdated laws from the time of Independence, with mere Rs. 50 fines.”

Actor Rupali Ganguly has always been an animal lover and recently adopted an Indie dog at an adoptothon. “Other people had ambitions like buying clothes, jewellery or a house, for me, my goal was to earn enough to take care of and feed strays. Dogs are a blessing. I enrich my life by helping homeless animals,” shares Ganguly, who takes care of 15 dogs on the set of her TV show.

Instead of buying pedigree dogs, Ganguly urges people adopt Indie dogs and “give a home to an animal who needs it and discourage breeders”. She adds, “Pedigree dogs need special care. People abandon them when they can’t afford or don’t want to take care of them. They are also a status symbol for some people. Indies are intelligent and sturdy. I wish I could do something to bring about stricter animal cruelty laws in India.”

The new entrant in her family has been named her Kachori. “All my fur babies are named after food dishes in Hindi”, she says, adding, “I had a [dog named] Noodle, who I picked up from a garbage bin in 2013. We got Barfi home in 2010 after he was almost crushed by a bus. I went to the adoptothon to show my support but when I called my husband and son, Rudransh, to talk about Kachori, my son said, ‘Get the puppy no one wants’.”