‘Who cares about actors’ mental health?’: Richa Chadha defends Dia Mirza after viral social media backlash

Richa Chadha has come out in support of Dia Mirza after the actor faced widespread criticism on social media over a viral podcast clip involving her young son. In a strongly worded post, Richa questioned the growing trend of online trolling and urged people to acknowledge the emotional impact such criticism can have on public figures.

The controversy began after a clip from Soha Ali Khan’s podcast surfaced online. In the video, Dia narrated an incident involving her five-year-old son, Avyaan, who asked a coconut vendor to remove plastic packaging before handing over the coconuts, explaining that plastic was not allowed in their home.

While some users appreciated the environmental message, others labelled the anecdote as “tone-deaf” and accused the actress of being disconnected from the realities faced by small vendors. The clip quickly sparked debate across social media platforms.

Reacting to the criticism, Richa Chadha shared a detailed note on X, arguing that actors often become easy targets regardless of whether they choose to speak up or remain silent.

She wrote that women in the public eye are frequently criticised whenever they discuss subjects beyond entertainment or fashion, adding that people rarely consider the mental health of actors while subjecting them to relentless online scrutiny.

Richa also highlighted Dia Mirza’s long-standing commitment to environmental conservation, saying the actress has consistently supported sustainability initiatives long before the recent controversy.

According to Richa, Dia is associated with a bamboo paper company that promotes eco-friendly alternatives to conventional paper manufacturing and is also involved with WITHOUT, a plastic recycling startup that creates sustainable products, including sunglasses.

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She further pointed out that Dia has produced content focused on climate awareness and has dedicated considerable time and effort to ecological restoration.

In her post, Richa argued that people genuinely working towards positive social change often face unfair criticism despite making meaningful contributions. She questioned why individuals trying to create awareness are so frequently branded as hypocrites instead of being encouraged.

To further underline Dia’s commitment to environmental causes, Richa shared photographs of some of the 1,100 trees that Dia had gifted her as a wedding present, describing the gesture as an example of the actress’s genuine dedication to sustainability.

Dia Mirza has long been associated with environmental campaigns and conservation initiatives, regularly advocating for climate awareness, waste reduction and sustainable living.

The recent episode has once again sparked a broader conversation about social media accountability, online criticism and the pressures faced by celebrities who choose to speak publicly about social and environmental issues.

As of now, Dia Mirza has not issued any fresh statement regarding the online backlash.