Face it: Exotic skins kill

Dia Mirza is the latest Bolly celeb to step up to pose and support PETA India’s latest campaign against exotic skins which features her done up as if she’s been skinned alive – a reality that snakes go through for belts, shoes and handbags.

A longtime supporter of PETA’s initiative, Ms Mirza was given a Hero To Animals award for promoting adoption of homeless dogs in her Born Free Entertainment home production Love Breakups Zindagi.

To hear Dia talk more about the latest print campaign and see behind-the-scenes footage of the photoshoot… (more after the video)

The caption of the ad is face it, Exotic Skins Kill. Wild Animals Belong in the Wild, Not in Your Wardrobe. Dia is bloodied in the ad to make it look as if she was skinned alive, which is the case for many snakes used in the skin trade. The ad is shot by ace photographer Jatin Kampani. Nahush Pise applied the stunning make-up, and credit for the costume and styling goes to Theia Tekchandaney.

“Skinning animals alive or beating them to death for a pair of boots or a purse cannot be justified. By choosing widely available fake snake and mock croc, you can pay tribute to these animals’ beauty without stealing their skins and killing them,” says Mirza, an ardent People for Ethical Treatment of Animals supporter.

Actors like Vidya Balan, Shahid Kapoor, Mallika Sherwat, Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Winslet and others have offered their support to PETA as well.