You know you have chosen your idol wisely when you speak of Dia Mirza. The actor and producer has long been a powerful presence in community service and activism. Her philanthropic work spans wildlife conservation, beach clean-ups, children's education, HIV awareness, the fight against female foeticide, and more.
This season, as Robb Report India celebrates the spirit of giving, we sat down with her to understand her philosophy on philanthropy, what it means to her, how India can strengthen its culture of giving, the causes closest to her heart, and more.
Robb Report: How important is philanthropy in today’s day and age, especially when it comes to the privileged in India?
Dia Mirza: Philanthropy today is not optional — it is essential. We live in a time of great opportunity, but also deep inequality. Privilege in India is layered, complex, and often inherited. With that privilege comes responsibility — not as charity, but as participation in nation-building.
For me, philanthropy is not simply about giving money. It is about giving time, voice, influence, and accountability. And at the heart of all of it must be kindness. My deepest personal discovery has been this: only kindness can make our world a better place. I want to create an echo chamber of kindness, where compassion multiplies through action. Because when generosity becomes a habit, it becomes culture. And when kindness becomes culture, change becomes inevitable.
Robb Report: India ranks 57th on the World Giving Index report 2022. What do you think we as a country should be doing to boost our nation’s philanthropy? What can contribute to this shift?
Dia Mirza: Philanthropy in India must evolve from reactive donations into sustained, thoughtful investment in people and the planet. We are a nation with an ancient tradition of seva and daan, but today, generosity must also look like systems-building — supporting education, healthcare, livelihoods, environmental protection, and climate resilience in long-term ways.
Corporates and individuals alike can contribute by partnering more closely with grassroots organisations, committing to continuity, and measuring impact transparently. But beyond institutions, we need a cultural shift — where kindness is not outsourced, but practised daily. Philanthropy must stop being a moment and start becoming a mindset.
Robb Report: What are some causes closest to you?
Dia Mirza: The environment is inseparable from everything I care about. Biodiversity protection, climate action and sustainable living are core to my life’s work. I am also deeply invested in children’s wellbeing, women’s rights, and in supporting Indigenous communities — particularly where these issues intersect with environmental justice. To me, compassion for people and compassion for the planet are the same instinct. You cannot love one and neglect the other.
I’ve been fortunate to work closely with several organisations over the years, including as a Goodwill Ambassador with the United Nations Environment Programme and an Advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. I also collaborate deeply with conservation groups like the Wildlife Trust of India and the Sanctuary Nature Foundation.
What matters most to me is long-term commitment. Whether it’s wildlife protection, disaster relief, reforestation or sustainable livelihoods, I try to engage with causes that lead to real impact, not just visibility.
Robb Report: What has philanthropy taught you?
Dia Mirza: It has taught me humility. It has shown me that no success is solitary and no hardship exists in isolation. When you work with communities and with nature, you learn very quickly that resilience, not wealth, is the real measure of abundance.
Most of all, it has taught me that listening is more powerful than speaking, and partnership more important than power. Philanthropy has deepened my belief that kindness is not soft — it is one of the strongest forces for transformation we have.
Robb Report: What kind of legacy do you wish to leave behind with the causes you work for?
Dia Mirza: If I could leave behind one thing, it would be the idea that kindness is not naïve — it is necessary. I want to help build an echo chamber of kindness, where care becomes contagious, and goodness travels faster than fear.
I hope to be remembered not for what I owned or achieved, but for how consistently I showed up — for children, for communities, for the natural world. And for using my voice not to amplify myself, but to amplify compassion.
Because at the end of the day, legacy is not what we gather. It is what we give forward.
