Mallika Sherawat, Dhanush voted Hottest Veg celebrities 2011

Mallika Sherawat has been voted `Hottest Vegetarian Celebrities 2011` in a poll by PETA.

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat and `Kolaveri` fame Dhanush have been voted `Hottest Vegetarian Celebrities 2011` in a poll by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), overcoming competition from veterans Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini, among others.

"Thousands of people cast their votes to help PETA India determine the Hottest Vegetarian Celebrities of 2011, and Dhanush and Mallika Sherawat have been declared the winners," the animal rights advocacy group said in a press release. National award-winning Dhanush and Mallika beat out early leaders Vivek Oberai and Vidya Balan and faced further competition from Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sonu Sood, Shahid Kapoor, and Kareena Kapoor, PETA India said. "If I had to pick the very best thing about being vegan, it`s my clear conscience", Mallika was quoted as saying while Dhanush, who shot to national fame with his chirpy video "Why This Kolaveri Di" was quoted as saying he felt light and healthy being vegetarian. "There`s nothing sexier than someone who exudes passion and compassion ? and our winners have plenty of both," PETA India`s chief functionary, Poorva Joshipura, said. The winners were chosen based on the total number of votes each celebrity received, plus other factors, the release said and advocated following a vegetarian style of diet, as it helped reduce risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer "and saves animals from a lifetime of suffering on cramped, filthy factory farms." PTI