The Sholay Effect

With names like Gabbar and Samba for their two big boys, there's no guessing which is Ashwini & Murali Sharma's favourite Bollywood movie. The pet parent-actor couple love their dogs to bits and ensure that one of them is at home at all times to keep an eye on them, their bachchas

- Farzana Contractor

They are both actors. They are both very busy shooting. In different locations; cities and towns, and their schedules rarely match… So how do they work out that their one-year-old ‘children’ have a normal, love-filled upbringing? Simple, it’s been decided, one of them has to be around, always. If they can’t be at home with them, then the bachchas will travel with them!

Meet Ashwini Kalsekar and Murali Sharma. Pet parents with a vengeance. People whose entire life revolves around Gabbar and Samba. That’s right, it’s the Sholay effect.

“It was Murali who christened our English Mastiff, Gabbar. So our servant of many years piped in and said, ‘Phir dusre ko Samba bulana chahiye!” (Then we have to call the other one Samba!) That’s how the Lab came to be called Samba,” enlightens Ashwini.

The Sharmas have been in a happy partnership of romance, love and marriage for over two decades, all that they were missing were pets to seal the bond fully. So just over a year ago the two decided to bring two home. Says Ashwini, “I just knew we had to get two together and of the same age. And they had to be of a big breed.” Her logic was simple. She had grown up with a brother and the two were so together they did not need any other for their happiness. She figured the same would apply to their pets. So two for companionship.