Soha Ali Khan shares childhood memories with animals on World Animal Day

Actor Soha Ali Khan says she has always felt a natural bond with animals ever since her childhood. On World Animal Day, she recalled growing up around farm animals in Bhopal and Pataudi, and sharing her Delhi bedroom with a tiny mouse. She said city children today might be scared of that, but she was comfortable with it. She also spent a lot of time in jungles with her family, learning to respect wildlife from a distance instead of treating animals like toys. Her father, Tiger Pataudi, always told her that every child should grow up with a pet to learn about grief and loss early in life. When Kunal Kemmu's dog named Masti passed away, it was a hard experience for Kunal, Soha, and their daughter Inaaya, who faced the finality of death for the first time. To remember Masti forever, Kunal got a permanent tattoo of the dog on his body.

Pet Dog Oreo

Soha and her family currently have a dog named Oreo, whom she describes as an empathetic therapy dog. Oreo reacts whenever Soha and Kunal have an argument by barking, jumping on them, and trying to calm them down. He also approaches whoever feels sad and licks their ear or rests his head on them. Meanwhile, their daughter Inaaya takes good care of Oreo by watching his diet, keeping him away from human food, and teaching her friends how to handle him safely without treating him like a soft toy.

Context

Soha Ali Khan also noted that she is deeply fascinated by elephants because of their high intelligence and strong family bonds, recalling a trip to South Africa where she watched mothers protect their calves. Growing up with pets and learning to respect wildlife are common themes in conversations about animal welfare and responsible pet parenting.