Cuter than a croissant, Casper with a velvety coat and expressive black eyes has made Shama Sikander a better human and a better lover of herself TEXT: TEAM BUDDY LIFE
Man’s best friend, and in this case, a woman’s, comes in all kinds of breeds, and celebrities have their preferences. It’s said that we choose dogs that reflect our appearance and personality. Shama Sikander, actor-turned-producer whose flagship web series, “Ab Dil Ki Sunn,” is set to release on one of the leading online platforms soon, is head over heels in love with a Bichon Frisé (say it with us: BEE-shon Free-ZAY). The gorgeous actor, who became a household name, thanks to her lead roles in TV series like Yeh Meri Life Hai (2003-2005), tells us she wanted a pup of her own for a long time. “I was scared of dogs as we never had pets at home. But a lot of my friends have dogs and they gave me so much unconditional love and this made me go for one of my own.” So a year back, the hottie became a fur mom to the playful and curious Casper, who knows how to work his pretty puppy eyes in front of the camera. Cuter than a croissant, Casper is intelligent, affectionate, and incredibly cuddly; he could easily be mistaken for a child’s toy. Though this happy-go-lucky breed originated in the Mediterranean islands, which could be why they’re so easygoing and fun-loving, it became the favourite companions of French and Italian nobility. So when our damsel was falling in love with a Frenchman named James Milliron, who happens to be her husband (they had a Goan wedding in March this year), she set her eyes on this Snow White of dogs – perfect companion for families, elderly couples, and everyone in between. Bred to be performers, their chief goal is to make people happy by learning tricks and making the whole family laugh. We are sure some of his mischievous streak rubbed on the actor also, who has made an Instagram reel that says, “Behind every strong woman, there is a dog following her to the bathroom.” The actor says, “I love how he wants to snuggle and feel my warmth and sit right next to me. I feel like an extremely happy and blessed dogmother. I feel extremely lucky to have Casper in our lives. He’s been a bundle of joy and my whole family already loves him immensely.”
You have a special four-legged friend in your life. Who is he/she and what’s the age?
Yes. His name is Caper and he’s a year-old Bichon Frisé.
Have you always had a pup at home? Were you raised in a family of animal lovers?
No, I never had a pup before. In fact, in my early years, I was very scared of animals for some reason as nobody in my family kept any pets at home. But as I met a few of my friends’ puppies and they gave me so much unconditional love and made me feel so comfortable, I felt like having one of my own, who I could take care of and nurture and add a member to my family. My husband James, however, has grown up with pets all his life and he really wanted one for a long time, so during lockdown we got one for ourselves.
What are your earliest memories of having dogs around?
I remember going to my friends’ homes and their puppies loved me, like I was their best friend. They showed so much trust in me. My friends used to tell me you should have one because you’ll be a very good mom. Some of them would just sleep on my lap whenever I went to meet them. One of them used to have conversations with me. Like she understood me properly. It was so heartwarming.
What is it that makes Casper special?
He is super special. Just by being him. He’s adorable and looks like a teddy bear…he almost doesn’t look real. He’s a white cloud, full of energy and funny and naughty and he likes to love everyone at home. He’s extremely intelligent. He understands me fully. He has conversations with me. He just brings so much joy to our lives. My whole family loves him so much that nowadays they come home to meet him more than me. They’ll video call just to talk to him or see him.
Now that you must have spent so much time with him because of the pandemic, what have you learned most about life from having the furball around?
He has taught me how one must love themselves truly and how we are so loved. He has taught me freedom, doing what he wants to do, yet being extremely loving and giving when he wants to give. He’s a free bird and he doesn’t like it when his freedom is compromised in any way. He’s not ashamed to not be pleasing to people. He made me a better human. He made me a better lover of myself.
As life gets normal after corona, how is life changing for you two?
Well, of course, things are moving now, so energy is flowing. I love to take him for his walks sometimes. He loves it when I’m with him on his walks, especially. I can see the joy in his eyes. Someday I would love to take him on a trip with me.
Do you groom or bathe him? What part do you play in his grooming?
Yes, sometimes I do give him a bath at home but this one needs a proper hair cut and care since his fur is extremely soft and long. It needs to be cut by a professional on time regularly so it doesn’t get knots. But I brush him twice everyday. I clean him with wet wipes because he’s pure white and he can get dirty very fast and I can’t bathe him more than once in two weeks.
How far would you go, or where do you draw the line when it comes to pampering him?
Oh yes, I pamper him. But I also believe in guiding him in the right direction as I work on him being good and friendly with all guests. And he’s a very well- behaved puppy. We got him a good dog trainer since he was two months old, so he learned well. But I love to shop for him. It gives me so much pleasure to see his smiley face.
Is he allowed on the couch and most importantly, the bed?
Yes, he sleeps with us on our bed. However, he is not allowed on sofas. Sometimes, while playing he might jump around, but he comes down immediately as he knows its off-limit. Earlier, we used to put him on his bed but he would not like it very much. It made him very anxious. So then one day he came to me and told me in his language, I felt like he was requesting me to let him up on our bed and the moment I did, he fell asleep peacefully. So I couldn’t and didn’t feel like putting him down. From that day he feels very happy. All anxiety gone. So I let him sleep on my bed. I enjoy having him around too to be honest.
Have you ever adopted or had a rescue pup at home? Or maybe a homeless one?
No, unfortunately not yet. But I have helped a few to find homes and fed them from time to time. I love animals, but I was just very scared in the beginning of my life. But now I’m not.
Do you see yourself as an animal advocate? Have you ever spoken up for animals that needed to be adopted, or in support of animal rights?
Yes, I have. They were always on this planet with us or maybe before us too and so they hold equal space of their own. They’re a beautiful addition to our lives. If you train them well. They can be very good pets.
What’s that one quality that makes a dog so endearing to you?
Dogs are so loving. The way they greet you every time is just unexplainable. That feeling is something out of this world. You are their world. Their everything if you take care of them, or even if they just like your energy they are capable of giving pure love.
Do you believe a dog is a human’s best friend?
Yes. Absolutely.
There are many stray dogs and cows roaming the streets. Do you plan to build a shelter for them some time in your life?
In the future. Yes, I would love to. I have a few very close friends also working constantly to help stray animals and we keep doing our bits here and there.
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