Randeep Hooda
Actor Randeep Hooda is known for his love for horses. Recently, he lost one of his pet horses named Ranji. The actors shared a moving tribute to Ranji on social media, who he revealed passed away this week at the age of 23.
Taking to Instagram, Randeep shared a heartfelt video of his pictures and videos with Ranji along with an emotional note. Hooda recalled Ranji's extraordinary life journey, from being rejected by the army for his size and a failed eye operation, to escaping a life pulling tangas, and eventually becoming a champion jumper and cherished companion.
Randeep wrote, "He came into my life outta sheer destiny and made my life so much richer. Always wanting to be running free⦠he jumped that way too. He took me flying over many an obstacle, sometimes with my eyes shut for the scare of it and won me many a medal."
The actor also revealed that he named the horse Ranji, after Maharaja Ranjit Singh Gaekwar, due to his one eye. Despite suffering from Laminitis, a debilitating condition that often leads to euthanasia, Ranji went against the odds multiple times, bouncing back with determination and care from his devoted grooms and veterinary support.
"He still needed two grooms to hold him when taken for a walk⦠he even tried to jump out of the stable on his last night as if he wanted to fly away. And fly away he did."
"He finally passed on to the other realm at 23 years old which is like in the 90s in horse years. Heartbroken and almost not wanting to keep horses anymore I bid you farewell my dear trusted friend. My Ranji. We just ran out time brother," Randeep concluded.
Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda reportedly adopted nine horses back in 2016, whom he kept in his farmhouse in Gurgaon. These horses were reportedly fighting for their lives and were rescued by an animal welfare NGO named Friendicoes. With Randeep's help and support, they got a chance to participate in racing events and lead a comfortable life.
According to reports, the nine horses are a part of a group of 49 racehorses who were on the verge of dying due to starvation in an Aligarh-based farmhouse. Back then he had said, ""Just as humans want to earn money through hard work and lead a life of dignity, these high-breed horses will take part in racing events to earn themselves nobility. I learnt about these starving horses in an Aligarh stud farm through news reports. I read Friendicoes had rescued them. They were eating plaster and bricks from the walls of the stud farm. It really saddened me," he said.
