“Running Has Become A Luxury”: Saiyami Kher on Mumbai’s Alarming Air Quality

Actor and marathon runner Saiyami Kher has voiced growing alarm over Mumbai’s deteriorating air quality, revealing that even a basic morning run—once a cornerstone of her fitness routine—has become nearly impossible. Speaking to HT City, the 33-year-old star of films like Ghoomer and Choked said the city’s toxic smog has forced her to drastically cut back on outdoor exercise and rely on indoor alternatives.

“I see people constantly coughing while walking or running. We’re literally reading that breathing Mumbai air right now is equivalent to smoking six cigarettes a day,” Kher said, describing the situation as “extremely unhealthy” and “hazardous.” She added that infants and children in her vicinity are falling sick repeatedly, underscoring the broader public-health crisis.

The actress, known for completing the Ironman Triathlon and half-marathons, lamented that outdoor running and cycling have become “a luxury” she can no longer afford. Instead, she has shifted endurance training to a home treadmill and stationary cycle, with air purifiers running round-the-clock in both rooms. Yet even indoors, she said, AQI readings frequently climb to 140–145 because of relentless construction activity nearby.

Also Read: ‘Everyone Is Sick’: Mumbai Man Shares Worry as Pollution Hits Colleagues Hard

Kher’s concerns echo warnings from health experts and the Central Pollution Control Board, which has recorded Mumbai’s AQI hovering in the “very poor” to “severe” categories for weeks, driven by construction dust, vehicular emissions, and weather patterns trapping pollutants. Her candid account highlights how the city’s air crisis is now impacting not just vulnerable groups but even elite athletes who once treated Mumbai’s streets and seafronts as their training ground.

Also Read: Teacher Collapses and Dies After Intense Door-to-Door Voter Verification Duty in UP