Aishwarya Rai's Ponniyin Selvan in trouble; PETA files police complain after horse dies on sets

Mani Ratnam and Aishwarya Rai's historical and action drama Ponniyin Selvan film lands in trouble; PETA and Animal Welfare board file a police complaint; read details

Director Mani Ratnam is currently in Hyderabad shooting for Ponniyin Selvan, a historical and action drama featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Chiyaan Vikram, Trisha, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, and Prakash Raj in pivotal roles.

The film is a period war epic, and for that, the team used a lot of horses during the shooting to give it an authentic look. However, according to reports, while shooting one horse had a head-on collision and died on the spot. 

And now, PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) India filed a complaint post-Abdullapurmet Police lodged an FIR against Madras Talkies, the production house of Mani Ratnam and the owner of the horse. The Abdullapurmet police registered an FIR under Section 11 of the PCA Act, 1960, and Section 429 of the IPC, 1860. The Animal Welfare Board has called Mani Ratnam and team for an inquiry. 

In a statement, PETA India Chief Advocacy Officer Khushboo Gupta said, "In the age of computer-generated imagery (CGI), production companies have no excuse for forcing exhausted horses to play at war until one of them drops dead." 

According to reports, police said a veterinarian carried a post mortem, and a report is still awaited. The news report also mentioned that the horses were continuously used, notwithstanding being exhausted and dehydrated.