Tinnu Anand breaks silence amid backlash over threatening stray dogs with hockey stick: 'I'm 80 years old and if any dog attacks me...'

Bollywood actor and filmmaker Tinnu Anand has landed in hot water after a WhatsApp message attributed to him went viral online, drawing sharp criticism from animal lovers and the public. His message appeared to threaten stray dogs in his residential society in Versova, Mumbai, and it triggered outrage among many online. Amidst the backlash, the actor has now responded to the issue.Tinnu's first reaction to the social media scrutinyIn response to the backlash, Tinnu Anand shared his side of the story in an interview with the Free Press Journal. “This is absolutely what I meant because my daughter has broken her wrist, and she's been undergoing treatment for the past month. It has cost me ₹90,000, as she has undergone two operations now,” he shared. He explained that his daughter's pet was attacked by stray dogs, and she injured her wrist while trying to protect it. He questioned why dog lovers don’t leash the strays they care for, adding that even a local delivery man had stopped service after being attacked twice.“I’m 80 years old, and if any dog attacks me, I have every right to defend myself. That is what I meant. That is what these people should have understood anyway,” he explained. He also shared that many are now portraying him in a negative light, and he is completely fine with that. He further stated that such incidents are not rare, as many dogs have been attacked, raising serious safety concerns.“It’s not about attacking dogs; it’s just about defending myself, and I have every right to do so. These people are quoting the Supreme Court order. Where does the Supreme Court say that you can’t defend yourself against a dog attacking you?” he concluded.The issue and social media reaction The controversy erupted when his WhatsApp message went viral:“Have come back after a horrifying shoot to be greeted by terrifying dogs barking and not knowing who to bite next... Challenge taken. Have a hockey stick to face them... am warning all dog lovers hereon... take them home OR then face my wrath... my society is given advance notice."Many social media users labelled him a real-life villain, and television actress Shweta Gulati also weighed in, stating, “Had such massive respect for this man, which is lost today. What a fool. Let’s pray he gets beaten soon.”