1 day Ago
Standup comedian-actor Vir Das, known for his unfiltered and caustic takes on hot-button topics, recently shared a rather hilarious take on Mumbai’s worsening air pollution. Taking to Instagram, the ‘Delhi Belly’ actor compared living in the city to smoking cigarettes daily. “I’ll smoke a cigarette socially, maybe fifteen days a year.
The remaining days I’m a breathing Mumbaikar. The same taste. Today Mumbai was a Marlboro Light,” he wrote.
His analogy struck a chord with many, sparking a wave of memes in the comments section. Even actress Sonam Kapoor amplified the discussion by resharing his post, shedding light on the increasing worries surrounding Mumbai’s worsening air quality.Vir’s remark sparked a wave of humorous reactions, with many users playfully comparing Mumbai’s pollution to Delhi’s notorious air quality.
One commenter joked, “Bhai, come to Delhi—it's like smoking 10 hookahs every day!” Another quipped, “Welcome to Delhi, Habibi.”Some took a more exaggerated approach, expressing their frustration with the city's pollution levels. One user dramatically stated, “I just landed in Mumbai, and my advice—evacuate the city and fix it!” Others continued the cigarette analogy, drawing creative parallels to the changing air conditions.
“I live in Delhi. It rained yesterday, so today we’re Esse Lights. On most days, we’re Marlboro Advance,” one comment read.
Another chimed in, “Delhi’s air keeps switching flavors until it eventually turns into Gudang Garam.”The lighthearted yet sharp commentary reflected the growing concern over air pollution in India’s major cities, where residents often struggle with deteriorating air quality.Vir Das has consistently used his platform to highlight the deteriorating air quality in major cities, often sharing thought-provoking posts on Instagram.
In one of his recent updates, he sounded the alarm on pollution, emphasizing its long-term consequences. Unless drastic measures are taken, every government’s legacy will be the pollution they allowed us to endure, he wrote. The true impact will only be acknowledged when we witness its effects on both the newborn generation and the elderly.
Right now, it might seem like ‘new pollution,’ but if we continue to ignore it, we’ll be forced to live this way for decades. The actor further stressed the need for urgent policy changes, acknowledging that such decisions would likely be met with resistance. Major reforms must take place, and yes, they’ll cause temporary discomfort.
We will complain, just as we did when new airports and bridges were built, but in the long run, they will prove beneficial, he explained.Highlighting the immediate concern, he added, It’s 7:30 a.m.
, and the AQI is already at 170. Right now, children are heading to school, and elderly citizens are out for their morning walks. Air pollution isn’t political—it doesn’t discriminate based on wealth, religion, or nationality.
It doesn’t cast votes. If there’s one thing that truly needs fixing, it’s the air we breathe. Das’ post comes amid increasing conversations about India’s worsening air quality.
Recently, American entrepreneur Bryan Johnson sparked debate after abruptly leaving Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, citing Mumbai’s poor air conditions. Addressing the issue on X (formerly Twitter), Johnson urged Indians to prioritize environmental action, asserting, “Cleaning up the air will do more for India’s health than curing cancer.”.
