Dia Mirza's 'patriarchy' remark on Soha Ali Khan's podcast divides the internet

Actor and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza has found herself at the center of a raging online storm following her controversial remarks linking patriarchal power structures to global environmental degradation. Appearing on Soha Ali Khan’s podcast 'All About Her' alongside environmental journalist Arati Kumar-Rao, the 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein' star explicitly claimed that men and patriarchal mindsets are "totally responsible for the chaos" of climate change. While proponents of ecofeminism have come forward to defend her exploration of systemic domination over nature, a massive wave of critics on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit have slammed the actress, calling out elite celebrity lifestyle hypocrisy. What did Dia Mirza say? On Soha Ali Khan's podcast, Mirza sat down alongside environmental journalist, author, and photographer Arati Kumar-Rao to explore themes of climate change, environmental degradation, and humanity's connection with the natural world. Making her stance clear, Mirza stated,"Patriarchy is the cause for climate change. It is the men in this world that have..." Soha interjected, "You said the male ego." Dia continued, "Yeah, it's men who have driven climate change and they are entirely and totally responsible for the chaos that has been unleashed on our world today and the misery that people are experiencing everywhere. I mean, not just the global south, but the global north as well now, right?" Dia Mirza's views draw mixed reactions The remark was made during a conversation about climate change and the bond between human beings and nature, which also featured environmental journalist, author, and photographer Arati Kumar-Rao. Reactions were mixed; some viewers backed Mirza's viewpoint as part of a wider dialogue around environmental justice, while others felt her statement reduced the complex causes of climate change to an oversimplification. Dia Mirza and Kumar-Rao discuss ecofeminism The podcast touched on how large-scale damage to nature might be tied to systems of power and control. Mirza said that the way humans exploit nature comes from a mindset that values dominance and aggressive development. Kumar-Rao added that "patriarchy is not just about men, and feminism is not just about women," explaining that women can also support patriarchal ideas while men can back feminist ones. The talk was rooted in ecofeminism, a belief system that connects harm done to the environment with the long-standing oppression of women. Dia Mirza faces celebrity hypocrisy claims online The remarks spread quickly across platforms like X and Reddit, where many users pushed back against Mirza's views. Some critics called out what they saw as hypocrisy, arguing that rich celebrities are in no position to lecture everyday people about climate change when their own lavish lifestyles likely leave a much bigger carbon footprint. A number of users also pointed to the podcast itself and raised doubts about whether famous public figures are the right people to speak on environmental responsibility. Dia Mirza's argument called too simplistic by critics Many users felt that blaming climate change on patriarchy was too simplistic for such a complex global problem. They argued that factors like industrialisation, reliance on fossil fuels, government decisions, economic systems, and corporate pollution have a far more direct role in causing environmental damage. Some commenters also pointed out that much of the infrastructure built over the last two centuries was constructed without any real awareness of its long-term impact on the environment. They felt that bringing gender politics into the conversation only distracts from the practical technology-based and policy-driven solutions actually needed to tackle climate change. Dia Mirza's long journey as an environmental advocate Mirza has been actively involved in environmental causes for years, alongside her acting career. She is associated with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and has regularly spoken out on issues like sustainability, air pollution, and climate action. She has previously shared that her passion for environmental advocacy grew stronger after attending a UNEP conference in Bangkok, where she was exposed to research and data on air pollution that had not yet reached mainstream awareness in India. As she nears 25 years in the film industry, Mirza continues to balance her work on screen with her commitment to environmental activism. Her recent comments have once again put that work in the public eye, while also sparking a wider online conversation about climate change, accountability, and how social systems shape the way we treat our environment.