Vir Das Takes Humorous Dig At Mumbai’s Pollution, Compares Breathing To Smoking A Cigarette

March 1, 2025: Stand-up comedian and actor Vir Das has once again used his platform to address a serious social issue — Mumbai’s worsening air pollution. Known for his candid takes on various matters, Das recently made a lighthearted yet poignant comment about the city’s air quality.

Taking to his Instagram, Vir shared a witty post, humorously comparing breathing in Mumbai to smoking a cigarette. His post read, “I’ll smoke a cigarette socially, maybe fifteen days a year. The remaining days, I’m a breathing Mumbaikar. Same taste. Today Mumbai was a Marlboro Light.”

This humorous remark is not the first time Vir Das has addressed the ongoing issue of air pollution in Mumbai. Just last month, the actor shared a heartfelt message about the environmental crisis, highlighting how pollution is becoming an increasingly pressing concern for everyone. He pointed out that future generations will bear the consequences unless significant measures are taken soon.

In his earlier post, Vir stated, “Unless something drastic is done, the legacy of each government is going to be the pollution they let us live in. This point will probably be taken up when we realise the long-term effects it had on the generation just born, and those in old age too. Right now, it feels like new pollution, doesn’t it?”

He further expressed the urgency of taking immediate action, calling for drastic policy changes that would, in the long run, benefit the environment, even though they might be met with resistance initially. “Some drastic policy decisions need to happen. Goes without saying that the decisions will make us hugely unhappy in the interim. We will moan like we did when we got new airports and new bridges, but it will eventually be worth it,” Vir added.

He concluded by reminding his followers of the shared responsibility to fix the air quality, emphasizing that air doesn’t care about one’s income, religion, or political views. “Air isn’t political, air doesn’t care about your income status, air isn’t religious, air isn’t patriotic, air doesn’t vote. If there’s one thing worth fixing, it’s the air.”

With his posts, Vir Das continues to spark important conversations about environmental issues while making people think through humor.