Bhumi Pednekar, a renowned Bollywood actress known for her socially conscious films, has shared her ambitious plans for World Environment Day. Pednekar established Climate Warrior, a non-profit advocacy platform that aims to offset her and her family’s carbon footprint and promote sustainability in her home. The organization also has larger goals, such as supporting initiatives like Healing Himalayas, which clears pollution from the mountain range after tourist season, cleaning Mumbai beaches, promoting plastic-free film shoots, partnering with upcycling and recycling organizations, advocating for waste segregation across India, leading anti-open defecation campaigns, marching for climate justice, and supporting transformative companies that make ink from pollution, among many other projects. Pednekar funds Climate Warrior with her acting remunerations.
Variety was told by Pednekar that she has always believed she could do more as an actor because her voice has the potential to reach a large audience. On World Environment Day, June 5th, the actor will be planting thousands of trees on the outskirts of Mumbai and is encouraging her fans to do the same.
Pednekar believes that climate action requires consistent effort from individuals, communities, and authorities on a daily basis. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork and individual responsibility, stating that we need an urgent plan of action to save our planet. The actor notes that we cannot rely on others to do the job for us and that climate change is a real and immediate threat. She hopes to extend her commitment to environmental activism into her film projects and is searching for a script that addresses the impact of climate change.
Pednekar has a history of using her acting platform to address social issues. Her debut film, “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” (2015), tackled weight shaming, while “Toilet: A Love Story” (2017) addressed open defecation. Her character in “Bala” (2019) spoke out against skin color discrimination, and her upcoming film, “Badhaai Do” (2022), seeks to normalize LGBTQ+ relationships in India.
In the 2019 Busan selection “Dolly Kitty and Those Twinkling Stars,” Pednekar portrayed the character of Kitty, a girl from a small town who experiences both freedom and its associated risks in a big city. Pednekar is determined to continue exploring diverse roles and break new ground as an actor. She has always aimed to choose unique and unconventional projects, and her upcoming films will showcase her in ways that audiences have never seen before. Pednekar’s next film is the crime drama “The Ladykiller,” directed by Ajay Bahl (“Blurr”), in which she co-stars with Arjun Kapoor (“Kuttey”). In this film, Pednekar plays a challenging role that pushed her to her limits, and she is proud of the results she has achieved on screen.
Pednekar is set to team up with Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh once again in the comedy film “Mere Husband Ki Biwi,” directed by Mudassar Aziz of “Pati Patni Aur Woh” fame. Speaking about her role, Pednekar said, “I always try to choose roles that challenge me and take me in new directions. I can’t wait to see how audiences react to this film.”
Pednekar is also working on another comedy film titled “Thank You For Coming,” directed by Karan Boolani and produced by Rhea Kapoor for Anil Kapoor Film Company. “I’m honored to be working with such a talented team and I believe this film will be a highlight of my career,” Pednekar said. “I’m always looking for new and exciting projects to take on, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Looking ahead, Pednekar is eager to take on even bolder and riskier roles in the future. “I want to be known for pushing boundaries and taking on roles that haven’t been seen before,” she said. “I’m excited about the projects I’m being offered and can’t wait to see what else is out there.”