“How is this okay?” Deepika Padukone slams Mumbai air pollution, asks authorities to intervene

Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone has raised concerns about the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai, saying residents — especially children — are “choking” due to rising pollution levels.

Taking to her Instagram Story on Thursday, the actor highlighted the city’s worsening air pollution and urged civic authorities to take immediate action.

Padukone shared a screenshot showing Mumbai’s pollution levels and tagged the city’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), asking officials to address the issue.


Expressing concern, she wrote that people living in the city are struggling to breathe because of the poor air quality.

“The citizens of this city and its children are choking! How is this okay!? @my_bmc | @mybmchealth please help!” she wrote in her post.

Mumbai air pollution levels raise concern
According to aqi.in, the real-time PM2.5 and PM10 air pollution levels in Mumbai were recorded at 167, indicating unhealthy air quality.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also shows that Mumbai is among 17 most polluted cities in Maharashtra and part of a list of 123 polluted cities across India.

Experts have long warned that increasing vehicular traffic and industrial emissions are major contributors to the city’s pollution.

Earlier, former Minister of State for Environment Pravin Pote-Patil had said that Mumbai and Navi Mumbai feature among the most polluted cities, adding that vehicles and factories remain the primary sources of air pollution in the state.

According to Maharashtra’s Economic Survey 2017, the state had around 2.93 crore registered vehicles. These include 2.14 crore motorcycles, 41.51 lakh cars and jeeps, 2.18 lakh taxis, 7.44 lakh autorickshaws, and 14.98 lakh lorries, among others — all contributing to rising pollution levels.

Deepika Padukone’s upcoming projects
On the work front, Deepika Padukone was last seen in the 2024 film “Singham Again”, alongside Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

She will next appear in Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film “King”, which is expected to release in theatres on December 24, 2026. The actor is also part of filmmaker Atlee’s Telugu action film, tentatively titled AA22xA6, starring Allu Arjun.