2 min readUpdated: Oct 28, 2026 01:25 PM ISTMumbai air pollution: An electronic board showing health advisory to people due to air pollution, is seen at CSMT in Mumbai on 25 October 2026. (Express Photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)As Mumbai gasps for breath under an unhealthy Air Quality Index (AQI), the Mumbai civic body – Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) – has tapped into actor Dia Mirza, cricketer Ajinkya Rahane and Marathi actor Swapnil Joshi to run the drive against pollution. The anti-pollution campaign aims to make people aware of the implications of bursting firecrackers in public spaces.This is the first time the civic body is set to engage celebrities for running campaigns against plummeting AQI. Earlier this year, the civic authorities had roped in Hindi film actor Akshay Kumar for a campaign on cleanliness and solid waste management in Mumbai. “The Bombay High Court (HC) has already ordered us to prevent bursting of crackers in public space and encourage the usage of green firecrackers. Therefore, we are going to make this appeal to citizens through celebrity faces. At present, Mumbai’s AQI is plummeting severely and bursting crackers could add to the hazards,” a senior civic official told The Indian Express.The officials said that the engaged celebrities will send out messages through Instagram reels, videos and public campaigns.The officials also maintained that at the civic ward level, awareness campaigns will also be held with the celebrities on the implications of air pollution.The officials said that the celebrities will be formally appointed by this week. They said anti-pollution videos and reels will be published by next week. “The awareness campaigns will focus on the implications of open garbage burning, vehicular pollution and importance of waste management,” the official said. Story continues below this adThe BMC’s move comes a day after the civic chief announced action against real estate developers and contractors if the AQI monitoring sensors installed at the site don’t display correct AQI numbers. Mumbai’s AQI continues to remain unhealthy The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) portal meanwhile showed that 10 out of the 25 locations that have AQI monitors installed have reported unhealthy AQI on Wednesday. However, Mumbai’s overall AQI stood at 91, classified as satisfactory. Some of the polluted pockets in the city include Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) at 142, Mazgaon at 124, Shivaji Nagar at 119, Colaba at 106, Siddharth Nagar (Worli) at 103, and Sewri at 102. © The Indian Express Pvt LtdPratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a car... Read More AdvertisementLoading Recommendations...AdvertisementLive BlogJailer 2 Box Office Collection Day 13 Live Updates: Rajinikanth-starrer earns Rs 744 cr worldwide; beats Baahubali 2 to become highest-grossing non-Malayalam film in Kerala25 minutes agoCyclone Arnab Tracker Live Updates: Odisha evacuates over 30,000 people, Malkangiri likely to be worst hit31 minutes agoMLC Election Results 2026 Live Updates: BJP, ally sweep Karnataka; leads in UP35 minutes agoIndia news Live Updates, 28 October 2026: NDA sweeps Karnataka Legislative Council polls, wins all 4 seats56 minutes agoJio Platforms Share Price Live Updates: Jio lists at 21% premium, is India’s second most valuable company1 hour agoAdvertisement