Bollywood actress Dia Mirza has broken her silence after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) removed her video from its pollution-free Diwali awareness campaign, triggering a political controversy in Mumbai. The video featured the actress appealing to citizens to avoid excessive firecrackers and celebrate the festival in an environmentally responsible manner. However, the civic body's decision to remove the advertisement came after Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam objected to her participation in the campaign. Responding to the controversy, Dia defended her message and said that air pollution is a matter of public health and efforts to reduce it should be welcomed.
Why Did BMC Remove Dia Mirza's Diwali Advertisement?
The controversy began when the BMC launched an awareness campaign encouraging Mumbai residents to celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali. The initiative was undertaken amid concerns over rising air pollution and following directions from the Bombay High Court regarding the use of firecrackers.
As part of the campaign, the civic body approached several well-known personalities, including Dia Mirza, Madhuri Dixit, Nishigandha Wad and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane. These celebrities recorded video messages asking citizens to celebrate responsibly and avoid activities that contribute to noise and air pollution.
However, the campaign became controversial after Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam objected to Dia Mirza's participation. In a post on social media platform X, Satam questioned why the actress was giving advice about celebrating Diwali.
He wrote, "We don't need lessons on how to celebrate Diwali from Dia Mirza. Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture."
Following his objection, the BMC removed Dia's video from its official social media accounts. Interestingly, videos featuring other celebrities who had made similar appeals continued to remain available on the civic body's platforms.
The selective removal of the actress's advertisement raised questions about the decision, particularly because the original campaign was based on an environmental awareness message.
Dia Mirza Gives a Strong Response
Reacting to the controversy, Dia Mirza defended her participation in the campaign and explained the intention behind recording the video.
The actress said that Diwali represents the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. She clarified that her video was recorded in the interest of public awareness and was intended to encourage healthier and more mindful celebrations.
Dia also emphasised that air pollution is not merely an environmental issue but a serious public health concern.
Questioning the criticism of her message, she asked why anyone should object to a video recorded at the request of the BMC and in accordance with the Bombay High Court's directions.
She maintained that every effort to reduce pollution should be welcomed because clean air is important for everyone's health.
The actress also clarified that she had not charged any money for participating in the public awareness campaign. In a social media reaction, she expressed disappointment over the controversy, suggesting that even voluntary efforts for public welfare were being criticised.
Political Controversy Intensifies Over Dia Mirza's Video
The issue soon moved beyond Bollywood and became a political debate. Several political leaders questioned the BMC's decision to remove Dia's video while retaining similar messages from other celebrities.
AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan criticised Ameet Satam for singling out the actress. He questioned why Dia was being targeted when Madhuri Dixit and Nishigandha Wad had also made similar appeals as part of the same civic campaign.
Pathan described the situation as selective outrage and questioned whether the same environmental message was acceptable when delivered by other celebrities.
Opposition leaders also raised concerns about political interference in the functioning of the civic administration. They questioned whether the BMC had removed the video independently or following pressure from the BJP leadership.
Former Mumbai mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishori Pednekar also criticised the decision, questioning the influence of the BJP's Mumbai leadership over the civic body.
Meanwhile, BJP minister Nitesh Rane questioned Dia's position on pollution during other religious festivals. He argued that the actress should also speak about environmental concerns during festivals such as Eid and Muharram.
The comments further widened the debate, bringing religion and politics into an issue that initially began as an environmental awareness campaign.
BMC Yet to Explain Why the Advertisement Was Removed
Despite the growing controversy, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has not issued a detailed clarification explaining why Dia Mirza's video was removed from its social media platforms.
The fact that videos featuring Madhuri Dixit, Nishigandha Wad and Ajinkya Rahane remained online has become an important point in the ongoing debate.
The campaign itself was connected to the Bombay High Court's directions concerning firecracker use and pollution during Diwali. The civic body's original objective was to encourage citizens to celebrate the festival while remaining mindful of its environmental impact.
The controversy has now raised a broader question about public awareness campaigns and whether environmental messages should become a subject of political disagreement.
For Dia Mirza, the issue is also connected to her long-standing association with environmental causes. The actress has regularly spoken about climate change, air quality and sustainable living.
Her latest response makes it clear that she stands by the message of her video. While the BMC has yet to explain its decision, the incident has sparked a wider discussion about pollution, religious traditions and political influence in Mumbai.
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