Puppy Love-Gauri & Riva[Nandini-Damini]

Onscreen, they might be scheming vamps or docile bahus, but offscreen, these small screen stars have a soft corner for their furry friends, finds Nicole Dastur.

This would surely make an interesting script. The fact that TV stars share more in common than food on the sets, rona-dhona roles or
Ekta Kapoor as a mentor! Did you know that most of the vamps and bahus of the small screen also share a love for pets, specifically dogs, and that a number of them even have dogs of their own?
Take Urvashi Dholakia for instance. One wouldn't imagine that the woman who has the evil smile and twitching lips on screen goes home to cuddle her Spitz of seven years, Blackie, who she claims is the luckiest man on earth as he's the only guy who gets to share her bed! "Dogs are the best companions. They can really fill the vaccum in one's life. They can be great company, especially for those who live alone in the city," states Urvashi. Kaanchi Kaul has been an animal lover since she was a child. "I used to have a zoo in my house," she laughs, continuing, "I've had all kinds of pets right from fish to love-birds to rabbits to a cat! Now, I have an Irish Setter called Tango." What is it about a dog that she loves most? "They give you so much love and attention, and they are more loyal than human beings. It's a pure relationship. I've had Tango for nine years now, and he almost knows English now! He understands everything I tell him," says Kaanchi.
Riva Bubber, an avid dog lover, took her love one step further. She did a course on dog grooming in London and has recently opened a dog grooming salon in the city. "I've had dogs since I was 12 and I currently have two at home," she says, adding that what really concerns her is the state of stray dogs. "It's not their fault that they're homeless. Killing them is not the solution. They should be sterilised and cared for," feels Riva. And if you're not such a fan of four-legged pooches, well, that can change too. As it did in Delnaazz Paul's case. "I never liked pets and I had a special aversion for dogs. But Rajiv, my husband, was just the opposite. He always wanted a dog, so after much convincing, I agreed to keep one for his sake. But only if it was a small dog," says Delnaazz, now the owner of a Lasapso. And now Delnaazz says she can't think of living without him! "I've gotten so used to him, that I miss him when I'm away at work or out of the house. He's become an integral part of our life. I love the way he clings on to us when we return home," says Delnaazz. But why have they named him Gabbar Singh?! "Delnaazz laughs, "He is so tiny, that we thought we'd name him something that signifies just the opposite. You hear Gabbar Singh and you imagine a huge, ferocious dog and what you see is this tiny little thing!" says Delnaazz. Gauri Pradhan is also a dog lover, and once owned a Labrador, but had to give him up because since she was working round the clock, there was nobody to look after him. "Having a dog is like a baby, in fact, I'd say there's more responsibility. If you have a dog, you can never, ever be lonely," concludes Gauri.