The pooch parade: five of the best dog movies

With the new Akshay Kumar film Entertainment boasting a labrador in the lead role, Aarti Jhurani looks at five films where mutts have outshone their human co-stars.

Joely Richardson and Jeff Daniels in 101 Dalmatians. Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures

Marley and Me, 2008

Starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, this family drama is about a Labrador that refuses to be trained and racks up trouble wherever he goes. One of the best scenes in the movie involves Marley pulling a trick on the trainer who's out to sort him out, played to perfection by Kathleen Turner. Marley and his master (Wilson) share a special bond.

Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, 1994

This Suraj Barjatya film, starring Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit, also featured a Pomeranian called Tuffy. From umpiring cricket matches to delivering love letters, Tuffy is one of the best things about the blockbuster and was the reason why the demand for Pomeranians in India soared during the 1990s.

101 Dalmatians, 1996

The live-action remake of the classic animated Disney film stars Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil, who kidnaps 101 Dalmatian pups with an idea to turn them into a coat. The premise is gruesome but the comedy is heartwarming, centred on the adventures of the puppies' parents as they desperately try to rescue their babies.

Teri Meherbaniyan, 1985

This tearjerker featured Jackie Shroff as the protagonist, who adopts a pup after he nearly kills it in an accident. Halfway through the movie Shroff is murdered and his dog helps the police solve the case and ensures his master gets justice. The plot may be ridiculous but the canine makes it all worthwhile.

Hachi: A Dog's Tale, 2009

The movie is based on a true story, about a professor (Richard Gere) whose faithful dog accompanies him to the train station every morning, then returns in the afternoon to walk back home with his master. When the professor dies, the dog continues his daily vigil at the station for 10 years, until he breathes his last.