MUMBAI: Thousands of people cast their votes to help People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India determine the Hottest Vegetarian Celebrities of 2011, and Dhanush and Mallika Sherawat have been declared the winners. Dhanush and Sherawat beat out early leaders Vivek Oberoi and Vidya Balan and faced further competition from Sonu Sood, Shahid Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and Kareena Kapoor.

"If I had to pick the very best thing about being vegan, it's my clear conscience", says Sherawat, known for her many starring roles in blockbuster Bollywood films such as Murder, Pyaar Ke Side Effects and Welcome.

"Being a vegetarian always made me feel healthy. I've always felt light. Every time I sit down to eat, I'm helping the environment", adds Kolaveri Di singer Dhanush. "I'm proud to be a vegetarian. Go PETA, go green."

"The dozens of gorgeous celebrities in this year's contest show how a vegetarian diet makes you beautiful inside and out", says PETA India's chief functionary, Poorva Joshipura. "There's nothing sexier than someone who exudes passion and compassion – and our winners have plenty of both."

Going vegetarian can help to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer – and it saves animals from a lifetime of suffering on cramped, filthy factory farms. And since raising animals for food pollutes water and produces an enormous amount of greenhouse-gas emissions, going vegetarian also helps to protect the environment.

The winners were chosen based on the total number of votes each celebrity received plus other factors.