Modi and Rekha
Modi and RekhaReuters

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) India has named Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and yesteryear Bollywood actress Rekha as India's Hottest Vegetarian Celebrities for the year 2014.

The winners competed against strong contenders like Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Shahid Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Hema Malini, Vidyut Jammwal and R Madhavan.

Rekha, who has always maintained a healthy vegetarian diet, also practices yoga for fitness. "I've been a vegetarian for most of my life and can endorse the fact that it affects the way you think and perceive life," Rekha said, according to IANS.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also practices yoga and eats vegetarian food, even when he dines with his international counterparts.

"Rekha and Prime Minister Modi have inspired caring people everywhere to ditch meat in favour of vegetarian foods. Both of PeTA India's winners prove that nothing is hotter than kindness, which they show every time they sit down for a meal," said Poorva Joshipura, chief executive officer of PeTA India.