MUMBAI :Film makers no longer need to fear Maneka Gandhi and the Animal Welfare Board of India next time they want to use an animal in their films. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests recently questioned the AWBI’s authority over use of animals in Bollywood. The matter is also being taken up by the Censor Board and the I&B ministry.

In reality, those using animals in films were required to get AWBI’s clearance under the Performing Animals Act-2000. However, a 2002 amendment took away the board’s rights. Many a big names including the Barjatiyas, Rakesh Roshan, Ashutosh Gowarikar and Karan Johar have been dragged to court in the past for using animals in their films.

Even the more recent Rakesh Mehra’s Rang De Basanti was not spared when it had to postpone the release of the film for the same reason