Mumbai

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has expressed strong support for the Supreme Court’s recent directive to relocate all stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region to shelters. His stance starkly contrasts with several other Bollywood celebrities who have openly disapproved of the decision. Varma criticised animal activists, arguing that they are "busy tweeting about dog rights" while ordinary people are being "bitten and killed by stray dogs". He deemed it "insensitive to preach compassion" to the victims of stray attacks and their loved ones. 

Highlighting a significant social disparity, Varma asserted, "Rich people pet Hi breeds. Poor people get mauled and killed by strays. That’s the class divide dog lovers don’t talk about". He provocatively questioned the double standard, asking why a man killing is labelled a murderer, but a dog killing is termed an "accident," suggesting society exhibits "selective sympathy" for animals over human victims.

The Rangeela filmmaker challenged dog lovers to "adopt all the street dogs" into their homes rather than merely advocating against their removal, stating that "compassion without justice is not compassion but cruelty wrapped in self-righteousness". Varma also shared disturbing visuals of a four-year-old boy killed by strays, questioning the silence of animal rights advocates on such human tragedies. The Supreme Court's initial verdict mandated capturing strays within eight weeks for shelters, and a helpline for dog bite incidents; however, a separate bench has since reserved its order on a plea seeking a stay.