PRAXIS2026 Keynote 13
Dia Mirza, Award-winning Actor, Green Entrepreneur, Founder of One India Stories, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador and UN SDG Advocate
Humanity as a Force for Good
In an age when reputations are built on what organizations say, the voices that last are the ones that actually live what they say. Green crusading – the sustained, often unglamorous work of speaking up for the planet, has moved from the margins of activism to the centre of public conversation. At its core, it is not only about forests, rivers and wildlife; it is about humanity, and the recognition that every choice we make touches another life.
Now meet Dia Mirza – the dynamic woman who wears many hats – actor, producer, UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocate, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, Wildlife Trust of India Ambassador, Save the Children Artist Ambassador, Sanctuary Nature Foundation Board Member and International Fund for Animal Welfare Global Ambassador. She uses her global platform to champion sustainability, climate action and social change, inspiring action worldwide – and she continues to use her voice with the same grace. She spoke on – “Humanity as a Force for Good”.
For PR and communication professionals, this is more than a feel-good idea. Purpose-led advocacy is the ultimate test of authenticity, and credibility is earned through consistency, not campaigns. Few public figures illustrate this as well as Dia Mirza.
Often called “The Green Crusader”, she holds a very strong image. From being awarded for her efforts in wildlife conservation to championing environmental cinema, the actress-activist is making a real difference. She says being an environmental activist makes her a better actor – and that the ‘human’ role is to tell stories.
From honing her own environmental consciousness to learning to care deeply about the planet, Dia is passionate about life itself – something that has, over the years, “deepened” and “strengthened” her desire to act on climate change and leave behind a better world: one free of pollution, healthier and happier.
Today, two things come to her mind – climate and caregivers. She has always believed in the power of one, and in the thread of oneness and humanity that connects us all. With her life revolving around sustainability, which she promotes with passion, her message is simple: if we want a more sustainable world, we need to invest in sustainability.
She admitted that growing up with a German father, a Bengali mother and a Muslim adoptive father made coexisting with difference feel natural – an early lesson in inhabiting this diverse, living planet. Recalling her upbringing in Hyderabad, she shared how learning tehzeeb and adab, and developing a deep love for Urdu poetry, became her creative anchor.
People may differ in religion and views, but we are united by a basic need – to be loved, respected and heard, and to be allowed to become the fullest version of ourselves. Opinions may differ, but we can always choose to respond to any circumstance, even one that angers us – with respect.
“There is something I am learning – so much is about connecting lives. The fact is that every choice we make impacts many of us. The one thing is the feeling we leave and the feeling we interact with,” was her sincere, honest reflection. She added, “I feel the basics of feminism is to be allowed to be human and give full freedom to become the full version of ourselves!”
Backed by her presence in Bollywood, her primary identity remains that of an artist – yet she firmly believes that being an environmental activist makes her a better actor. She emphasizes that she has learned the critical power of “saying no”. Early in her career, she felt pressured by industry hierarchies; today, she believes a character’s truth and emotional resonance matter far more than screen time or the length of a role.
For her, work cannot be separated from purpose – it is one part of a greater agenda. The idea, she says, is “to make the work safe, equitable for everyone”.
Citing an example, she recalled a visit to a forest in Central India. “I felt lost, defeated, and it was this moment in the forest that I felt like it was homecoming!” she said. “There was no judgement of me happening in the forest.” Observing that every living organism – whether a caterpillar or a butterfly – lives to facilitate life, she concluded: “I think the human role is to tell stories.”
As she focused on the Planet, Purpose and the Power of One, she told us it is a reminder that we are all connected – and, for those of us in the business of communication, that the most credible stories are the ones rooted in purpose, humanity and truth.
In a Q/A with Nikhil Pavithran, COO, Kaizzen the question came up whether her purpose came at the cost of something complicated. It has not been complicated, but it has simplified my life, she said. “I believe every one of us must be an active citizen of the world”. She explained that if you choose to do something because it comes from an innate place of love, it will find its place in your life.
Do you have to kill something of yourself every day? What part of Dia are you trying to make more room for now? Her answer came pat – “I won’t do anything differently. My failures taught me much more. I felt the power of saying ‘No’ and have been pursuing everything with equal enthusiasm. It’s a tricky time to live in because noise does not mean ‘influence’”. When you speak of climate of the wild life, you don’t speak like a scientist. One always shares what you like to share in a place of learning. You enter it with empathy that shapes the voice of an advocate.
Did she ever step back because she felt her presence can have an impact? Have you seen a flower turn away from the sun, was her take and she confessed that a lot of campaigns, brands have come to her for PR and that has happened with consistency. “What I would like to convey as an ambassador or spokesperson, it is with clarity, honesty & transparency!” was her clear picture.
On Bollywood, she disclosed there are lots of exciting things happening, and she finds herself in a sweet spot where purpose meets passion.
Her advice on three things you should do:
* Doing what you love (work with ownership & pride)
* Getting s solid 8hr sleep (keeping a routine)
* Exercise & diet (eating nutritious food and keep moving)
How does she keep so calm? Exercise, mediate if you can, and enjoy what you’re doing. Don’t lose your moments in anger, was her quiet response. And if there was a choice between love or respect, her quick note was – “Love cannot exist without respect”.
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