Indian Film Industry Pledges to Ditch Live Elephants for Ethical Filmmaking

As of November 10th, 2025, a significant development has taken place in the Indian film industry. Twenty-one leading film and content production companies have pledged to no longer use live elephants in their projects, marking a major step towards more ethical and compassionate filmmaking.

This decision follows an appeal from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, which had previously drawn attention to the suffering elephants face when used for entertainment purposes such as films, television, and advertisements. According to PETA India, these elephants are often taken from their families, subjected to harsh training methods, and kept in chains when not performing.

In response to PETA's concerns, several well-known names from the Indian film industry, including actors John Abraham and Dia Mirza, as well as producers and directors like R Balki, Gauri Shinde, and Nikkhil Advani, have signed the Elephant Freedom Pledge. This commitment ensures that elephants can remain in the wild, among their own, rather than being exploited for the entertainment industry.

To replace live elephants, filmmakers are being encouraged to utilize advanced computer-generated imagery (CGI), visual effects, or mechanical elephants that closely resemble the real thing. These realistic models are already being used by more than 20 temples in southern India and can perform natural gestures such as flapping ears, lifting trunks, spraying water, and even carrying riders.