Lights, Camera, Rescue! Actor Ravi Verma Talks About the Time Spent on his Rescues

During 2020 to 2023, Ravi Verma made over 20 rescues alone.

Ravi Verma started acting when he was just 12 years old. He did skits, mime shows, and

dances like Kathak and tribal performances on stage. Even though he never went to a formal

acting school, he learned a lot just by doing. Later, he went to a short course at the New York

Film Academy, but most of his learning came from real life.

One of the biggest changes in Ravi’s life came in 2015, when he met a dog named Rufous. At

first, he was scared of Rufous and used to jump over sofas so the puppy wouldn’t bite his

feet. But soon, something changed. “I think Rufous changed me more than I changed him,”

Ravi says. The dog helped him understand what animals feel — that they live in the moment,

without overthinking like humans do. That also helped Ravi become a better actor.

During the pandemic, Ravi and his family started taking care of stray dogs in need of shelter.

Then one day, someone asked Ravi if he could foster a puppy. He said yes and that’s when

Peaches came into his family. That was the moment he really noticed how smart and playful

Indian Pariah dogs are. From then on, his family began helping more dogs — injured ones,

old ones, and those who needed a home. Some dogs stayed with them just for a little while,

until they got adopted. Others stayed longer.

There was one tiny old Pomeranian who had been hurt badly and needed help. Ravi’s son

gave her the name “Purpose.” They looked after her for many weeks. Ravi even skipped his

brother’s wedding and some film shoots to care for her. “It was one of the hardest times, but

also one of the most meaningful,” he says.

Ravi says the tough parts of rescue are not just about caring for sick animals — it’s also about

people. Some people say they like animals but don’t want them around.

“Many dogs lose their safe spots because of their neighbourhoods having problem with stray dogs,” he explains. “They end up on the road and get hurt or worse, get killed.”

One instance Ravi talked about is the dog named Munna that had been hit by a bike, and then someone even poured hot water on him. After that, he got scared of vehicles and started chasing them. Ravi helped Munna and many others get better and find safer places.

Even while shooting for movies and shows, Ravi always makes time for animals. Multiple

times he has helped his co-actors who got bitten by a dog and took them to get medical help. So much so that, the staff at the hospitals recognize him by these acts of kindness. “There are days when you want to act, and there are days when your heart is with the animals,” he says.

The hardest goodbye for Ravi was with Babu — a dog who was one of the first strays that

came to them. “He became like family. He could tell when our car was coming and would get up to greet us,” Ravi remembers. But one day, after a long trip when Ravi returned, Babu was gone. He had quietly disappeared. “I looked for him for days,” Ravi says. “But he was just... gone. Like animals do when they know their time has come.”

Still, there are many happy moments. Ravi once helped rescue a dog that was tied up in the

sun for two days on a hot floor. He and the dog-catching team got the dog to safety and gave it water and medicine. That dog is now doing fine.

He also helped find a new home for a playful puppy who now lives with a loving family. “I

made them do a 15-day trial before adopting her,” he says. “Now she’s their pet and doing

really well.”

Ravi has a simple message for kids and anyone who wants to help street dogs:

“Start small. Put out a water bowl. Feed one dog. Visit a shelter. Try walking and cleaning up after dogs before you adopt,” he says. “If you live in a flat, form a small group. Take turns. That’s enough to take care of a few dogs.”

Finally, he leaves us with these words.

“The more and more you treat them in a wrong way, you are actually creating the problem. You are a part of the problem. You have to define safety and you have to take responsibility.”

Written by Antara Pawar

Antara wrote this article as a participant of the Media-Makers Fellowship's May'25 cohort.