After Bombay High Court message on celebrity fees, Dia Mirza says she has never taken money

After the Bombay High Court commented that celebrities are demanding large fees to take part in public awareness campaigns, Bollywood actress Dia Mirza has said she has never taken a fee for taking part in any campaign conducted in the public interest.

In an interview, Dia said she has never taken any money for a campaign conducted in the public interest. She also said she has no idea who received how large a fee.

Dia Mirza said problems such as pollution can be solved, and if work is done on this issue as a priority, celebrities are interested in working with civil society and the government. She said every time they speak against bursting firecrackers, they come under attack.

Dia has worked for more than a decade in favour of reducing air pollution. She said work has to continue consistently to draw people's attention to pollution and its solutions. Updates on the daily air quality index (AQI) can be seen on her Instagram status, she said.

She also said the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has taken strategic steps to bring together and support various initiatives to tackle air pollution. She is also associated with it. According to her, the problem is that there is a lack of coordination among government agencies and they do not work together.

Dia's reaction came after the Bombay High Court's comment. The court said celebrities should not be paid from government money for taking part in public awareness campaigns.

On Monday, during a hearing on Mumbai's rising air pollution and bursting firecrackers during Navratri, Justice Girish Kulkarni commented that if celebrities are not willing to come forward without a fee, there is no need to approach them.

The judge said if celebrities demand a fee, that is a completely wrong approach. They have lived in this city and received much from it. If they feel a sense of belonging to the city, they should come forward to give something back to it. Government money should not be wasted on this work, he also said.

The court bench also advised contacting Marathi actors if needed. According to the judges, Marathi actors agree to take part in such campaigns without a fee.