National Award-winning actor Zaira Wasim, known for her roles in Dangal and Secret Superstar, announced her “disassociation” from the field of acting on Sunday, 30 June. Zaira has stated that she was not happy with the line of work as it interfered with her faith and religion.
Now, Raveena Tandon seems to have taken a dig at the actor, slamming “two film olds” for being ungrateful to the industry. She took to Twitter and wrote, “ Doesn’t matter if two film olds are ungrateful to the industry that have given them all. Just wish they’d exit gracefully and keep their regressive views to themselves.”
Anupam Kher, Omar Abdullah and Others Respond to Zaira
Actor Anupam Kher has said that though he was saddened when he first heard the news and felt that perhaps Zaira’s decision wasn’t her own, it’s her choice.
“I have only followed the story on social media and through the news; I haven’t read Zaira’s six-page-long note. I felt sad when I heard the news. I was saddened because a young girl – 17-18-year-old girl – crushed her dreams. God gave her such an amazing platform, Aamir Khan got such an amazing platform and she was doing very well,” he told ANI. “If she claims to have taken a decision in the name of religion, maybe it isn’t her decision. Maybe she was forced to take that decision – that was my first thought. But that’s her life. If she wants to take that decision, I respect her and I think we should leave her alone,” he added.
Earlier, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah had extended his support to Zaira. Omar Abdullah wrote, “ "Who are any of us to question @ZairaWasimmm's choices? It's her life to do with as she pleases. All I will do is wish her well & hope that what ever she does makes her happy."
Filmmaker Onir, actor Nagma and author Taslima Nasreen, journalist Barkha Dutt had also reacted to the development. Onir wrote, “ It's someone's right to choose what profession one finds happiness in. Wish the decision did not have to be accompanied with a sermon on "good way of life" #ZairaWasim .The opposite is a huge struggle for many who are prevented to make the choice citing the idea as anti religion.”
I Do Not Belong Here, Says Zaira On Her Decision to Quit Bollywood
In a detailed text note on her Instagram page, which Zaira Wasim later shared across all social media platforms, the Kashmiri-born star who debuted only 3 years ago in the Aamir Khan starrer Dangal, said she realised "though I may fit here perfectly, I do not belong here".
"Five years ago I made a decision that changed my life forever. As I stepped my foot in Bollywood, it opened doors of massive popularity for me. I started to become the prime candidate of public attention, I was projected as the gospel of the idea of success and was often identified as a role model for the youth.”
"However, that's never something that I set out to do or become, especially with regards to my ideas of success and failure, which I had just started to explore and understand," Wasim said in the lengthy post.
Take a look.
The 18-year-old actor said as she completed five years in the profession, she wanted to "confess that I am not truly happy with this identity i.e my line of work".
Wasim will next be seen in The Sky is Pink, which also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Farhan Akhtar. The film completed shooting in March and is set for release late this year.
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