Richa Chadha defends Dia Mirza amid backlash over her son’s viral lastic remark

Bollywood actress Richa Chadha has come out in support of fellow actor Dia Mirza after the latter faced criticism over a viral incident

Bollywood actress Richa Chadha has come out in support of fellow actor Dia Mirza after the latter faced criticism over a viral incident involving her young son questioning a delivery worker about plastic packaging. Defending Dia, Richa highlighted her long-standing commitment to environmental conservation, saying that Dia had gifted her 1,100 saplings at her wedding as proof of her genuine dedication to sustainability.

The controversy began after Dia Mirza shared a story during an appearance on Soha Ali Khan’s podcast. She recalled an incident in which her five-year-old son, Avyaan, reacted to a coconut water delivery that arrived in plastic bags with a plastic straw. According to Dia, her son asked the delivery agent why the coconuts had been brought in plastic and told him that plastic was not allowed in their home.

After the clip went viral on social media, many users criticized both Dia and her son. Some accused them of displaying arrogance and behaving like privileged individuals, arguing that the delivery worker was simply doing his job and should not have been questioned in that manner.

In response to the growing criticism, Richa Chadha strongly defended Dia Mirza through a post on X (formerly Twitter). She reshared a post from a user who had claimed that Dia often speaks about environmental protection while allegedly driving a Jaguar, implying hypocrisy in her environmental activism.

Richa dismissed the accusations and expressed frustration over the way public figures are treated online. She wrote that people often wonder why actors hesitate to express their opinions, but the reason is obvious: if they speak, they are criticized; if they remain silent, they are criticized as well.

She further stated that celebrities constantly have to deal with baseless criticism from people who attack them without understanding the full context. Richa also questioned why the mental health of actors is often ignored, adding that empowered women are especially targeted whenever they speak about subjects beyond entertainment.

To support her argument, Richa shared a personal example of Dia Mirza’s commitment to environmental causes. She revealed that Dia gifted her 1,100 treesas a wedding present instead of conventional gifts. Later, when Richa welcomed her daughter, Dia also encouraged her to gift trees to journalists rather than traditional presents, promoting a more sustainable way of celebrating important milestones.

Richa also rejected the claim that Dia owns a Jaguar. She said that, to her knowledge, Dia currently owns only two electric vehicles. Even if Dia had made mistakes in the past, Richa argued that people should recognize her continued efforts toward environmental responsibility rather than relentlessly attacking her.

In the original podcast, Dia explained that what upset her most was the unnecessary use of plastic packaging and a plastic straw with the coconut water. She recalled that the delivery worker was unaware of whose house he was delivering to. When Avyaan opened the door, he stood with his hands on his waist and politely asked, “Brother, why did you bring this in plastic? Plastic is not allowed in our house. Please remove the coconuts from the plastic, leave them here, and take the plastic and straw back with you.”

The incident has since sparked a broader debate on social media about environmental awareness, privilege, parenting, and the way public figures are judged online. While opinions remain divided, Richa Chadha’s support has shifted attention toward Dia Mirza’s long-standing environmental activism and the importance of encouraging sustainable habits from an early age.