Mumbai, Sept 17: Superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Czech-born supermodel Yana Gupta have won the "Hottest Vegetarian Alive" contest conducted by the NGO People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India here. Bachchan retained his crown from last year, edging out actor Richard Gere, top model John Abraham, southern heartthrob Madhavan, industrialist Anil Ambani and cricketer Anil Kumble, a PETA release said here today.

President A P J Abdul Kalam was a very popular nominee, and he came a close second and Yana Gupta finished ahead of Liv Tyler, Shania Twain, Pamela Anderson and last year's winner, Esha Deol in the online contest, which drew over 37,000 total votes at PETA's website. Speaking to PETA after she won the contest, Yana, the Bollywood newcomer attributed her beautiful complexion to her vegetarian diet.

"If others learn about the benefits of vegetarian diet as a result of this, then this contest will have many winners," she added.

She said, being able to pair with the superstar Bachchan in the contest was a thing for her to cherish. Meanwhile, reacting to the result of the contest, Bachchan said he was a vegetarian by choice and out of purely personal inclination. Bureau Report