BMC takes down actor Dia Mirza’s pollution-free Diwali video after BJP leader's objection

You don’t have any Active Subscription.

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

Actor Dia Mirza’s clip urging people to avoid noise and air pollution was removed on November 1, 2026. File | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A civic campaign on eco-friendly Diwali has sparked a controversy after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) selectively pulled down a video message by actor Dia Mirza from its social media handles following objections from BJP Mumbai chief Ameet Satam.

While Ms. Mirza's clip urging people to avoid noise and air pollution was removed on Sunday (November 1, 2026), campaign videos featuring actors Madhuri Dixit and Nishigandha Wad, as well as cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, have been retained on the BMC's X and Instagram pages.

The move came after Mr. Satam objected to Ms. Mirza's video in a post on X, tagging the BMC's official account.

"We don't need lessons on how to celebrate #Diwali from @deespeak. Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture," the BJP leader wrote.

Within hours of Mr. Satam's comment, the civic body led by Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide removed Ms. Mirza's video from its social media pages.

Civic officials remained unavailable for comment on the matter despite repeated attempts.

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.