Kapil Sharma adopts abandoned dog Zanjeer

Kapil Sharma is no longer his mother's only favourite. The comic virtuoso has competition from unexpected places. A new member of Kapil's family is claiming everyone's attention.

He is Zanjeer, an abandoned dog that Kapil brought home last week.

Speaking fondly of the new addition in his family Kapil says, "I got him from a couple, dear friends of mine, Dinesh and his wife who was a pilot. She gave up her job, and now they look after abandoned animals and birds. If you go to their house you will feel you've entered a zoo. There are animals and birds everywhere."

It was during one visit to his friends' that Kapil was introduced to Zanjeer. "He used to be a police dog, but has now been abandoned. I immediately fell in love with him. My father used to be in the police service. He died when I was only 15. When my mother saw Zanjeer she immediately said, 'Your father has sent him to us.' In no time at all he has become everyone's favourite at my work and at home."

Kapil takes Zanjeer to the sets of Comedy Nights With Kapil where he is everybody's laadla.

"Ab mujhe toh koi pehenchanta hi nahin," he jokes. "Even in my office there is a clamour for who will take Zanjeer for a walk."

Kapil has a message for all those who own pet dogs. "Please don't abandon them when they grow older. People eagerly and happily bring home dogs when they are cute puppies. But when the puppies grow into dogs they no longer find them cute. The dogs become a burden on the family. They take him and abandon him somewhere far away from home. This is as inhuman as abandoning your own children, Please don't bring pets home unless you are confident you can look after them all their lives."