Upala KBR / Mid-Day

Mumbai, Jan 10: Shah Rukh makes news every year for buying the most outrageously priced sacrificial goat for the annual Bakri Eid sacrifice. On the other hand, Salman Khan and family haven't slaughtered goats on the festival for as far back as the boys can remember.

Animal-lovers

Sohail Khan, who has just returned from a trip to South Africa, affirms, "Our family always celebrates several multi-cultural religious events, not just Eid.

We celebrate Christmas and Diwali but don't follow any traditions. My family doesn't believe in following traditions (laughs). There are no patterns for what we do."

Sohail says he can't remember a time when his family sacrificed goats for Eid. "Ever since I can remember, and that's 36 years, I have not witnessed a sacrifice in our family. It's not about why we don't do it. It's just that if we are not comfortable doing certain things. It's as simple as that. I am an animal lover and don't believe in killing them. I have a dog, a Chihuahua called Gucci, whom we all adore."

Salim Khan too is an animal lover and has several animals at his Panvel farmhouse, while Salman has two dogs - Myson, Myjaan, whom he treats like his children.

Says Arpita, the youngest sister of the Khans, "We don't sacrifice goats during Bakr=Eid. This year it was Eid and New Year's combined, so everyone was exhausted. We celebrated Salmanbhai's birthday on December 28 with just family and friends."