A loving pet is a joy for everyone, including film buffs. Though animal-centric films have been few in Bollywood, they have managed to leave a permanent mark on our minds.

Some of Hindi cinema's most iconic characters have been played by four-legged creatures. Be it Hema Malini's horse Dhano in Sholay, Salman Khan's Pomeranian Tuffy in Hum Aapke Hain Koun or the white pigeon in Maine Pyaar Kiya, these animals have essayed characters that were critically weaved into the plot of the movie, and have gone way beyond being just 'pets'.

Here’s a list of these unique friends who have gifted film buffs many ‘awwww’ and ‘ouch’ moments. Take a look…
 
Dog:

The loving bond between a dog and his owner has been well explored by many filmmakers. Like Moti in Teri Meherbaniyan, Tuffy in Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Moti in Bol Radha Bol, Dobby in Maa, Bhidu in Chillar Party, Entertainment in It’s Entertainment, and Pluto in Dil Dhadakne Do.

Elephant:

Haathi Mere Saathi had an elephant, Ramu, taking the center stage. Not only did he entertain kids with his antics, but Ramu also clinched the climax scene! No wonder that this Rajesh Khanna-Tanuja starrer was an instant hit.

Monkey:

While Govinda and Chunky Pandey had us in splits in Aankhein, it was ‘Bajrangi’ who made us hoot in the cinema halls! The monkey is still considered one of the most important pegs of the blockbuster hit.

Tiger:

Ajay Devgn was a real Himmatwala in this film as he bare-handedly fought a tiger for heroine Tamannaah Bhatia. Moreover, Life of Pi was based on the relationship between a tiger ‘Richard Parker’ and a young boy Pi, who get stranded on a boat in the middle of the ocean in the Ang Lee classic.

Pigeon:

The dove acted as the messenger of love between Bhagyashree and Salman Khan in Maine Pyaar Kiya. In this cult classic, the pigeon not only played cupid to the lovers, but was also instrumental in bringing about a happy ending!

Eagle:

Allah Rakha, an eagle, formed an integral part of the film Coolie. A faithful companion of Amitabh Bachchan, it was always shown perched on Bachchan's wrist. The bird played an important role in the final fight sequence between Big B and the villains.

Macaw:

Like children, animals and birds can be very moody too. One such bird is the digitally created ‘Raja’ from Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. The scarlet macaw, featured in the movie, is a kind of parakeet that is native to South America.

Horse:

The most iconic character of Sholay was Dhano. Do you remember the famous dialogue ‘chal Dhano aaj teri Basanti ke izjat ka sawal hai? Well, Hema Malini and her horse created a major mark on big screen.

Tell us which pet or animal is your personal favourite in the comment section below…