Zaira Wasim¡¯s Decision To Quit Bollywood Doesn't Sit Well With Everyone, Gets Mixed Reactions
Zaira Wasim left everyone shocked yesterday after she announced her disassociation with Bollywood. Five years after making her acting debut, the 18-year-old actress known for her roles in Dangal and Secret Superstar, said that she wants to quit the industry for her ¡°relationship with my religion was threatened.¡±
Her decision has kickstarted a debate on Twitter. While some people respect her decision for it is her choice others disagree with the fact that she named religion as a cause for withdrawal.
NC chief Omar Abdullah came out in support of the actress. The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir slammed the trolls. ¡°Who are any of us to question,¡± he wrote in a tweet.
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.
¡ª Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 30, 2019
Raveena Tandon, on the other hand, slammed her. In a tweet, she wrote she wished ¡°two-films-old¡± kept their ¡°regressive views to themselves.¡±
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 .
¡ª Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) June 30, 2019
I standby and love my industry,all the opportunities it gives to everyone. Exit is your choice,reason,by all means.Just do not demean it for everyone else.The industry where all work shoulder to shoulder,no differences,caste,religion or where you come from. #Respect #indianfilms https://t.co/hRJKTfI9J8
¡ª Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) June 30, 2019
Here¡¯s how others reacted.
Of course @_sabanaqvi we must not judge choices of #ZairaWasim but in the age of Artifical Intelligence we must question the book that orders an individual to quit ¡®ARTS¡¯ to make peace with Allah. https://t.co/GTxWsqVwCU
¡ª Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) July 1, 2019
I hope that this child now grownup Indian Muslim actress #ZairaWasim who says she quit Bollywood as it interferes with her religion doesn¡¯t become a #Jihadi tomorrow under the same ideology ?. After all she is an #Indian so I am sharing my concern on public platform. #JaiShriRam pic.twitter.com/vmfmSqyEJO
¡ª PAYAL ROHATGI & Team -BHAKTS of BHAGWAN RAM (@Payal_Rohatgi) July 1, 2019
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
¡ª Onir (@IamOnir) June 30, 2019
#ZairaWasim is a courageous girl who defied stereotypes & shined through. We must appreciate her courage & stand with her in her moment of crisis @ZairaWasimmm you hv our support . We love you for work you did and your spirit keep it alive. Wish you well and want u to be happy .
¡ª Nagma (@nagma_morarji) June 30, 2019
Dangal director said he was shocked to know about it. Nitesh Tiwari added that it is her life and she has the right to lead it.
Raza Murad accepted her decision but said that relating her decision with religion is totally unreasonable.
"It is totally her decision to quit the field and we must respect it. But relating it to her religion is unreasonable. All the Islamic countries in the world where Islamic laws are followed including Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain, Oman, Iran, and Afghanistan, etc., have female news readers, actors," he told ANI.
He recalled working with late Farookh Sheikh and said: "Farookh Sheikh acted in films without compromising with his prayers. So, these things go hand in hand. Sania Mirza is also religious who keeps 'Roza', prays and she has elevated India's name to great heights through tennis," he added.
"The real reason behind Zaira's decision is known only to her. Maybe people advised her or maybe she wouldn't be at peace with her mind. If she wishes to walk on the path of religion, she is totally free to do so," he said.
Tanushree Dutta, who was recently in the news after she levelled allegations against Nana Patekar, said, "As I read her full post, I couldn't help but wonder if Zaira's true calling in life is, in fact, to be a young spiritual leader of some sort guiding young Muslims to the true knowledge of Allah and Quran."
She said if Zaira steps out to show the true mystical wisdom to the world, she would find a follower in her. "In today's times, many young minds are getting corrupted through fanaticism and aggressive violent ideologies. Can Zaira be the voice of reason and show the world the true mystical and graceful wisdom of the Quran? If she does, she surely has one follower in me," added Dutta.
She continued, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have this kid start a YouTube blog sharing her faith? Clearly, her understanding and grasp on religion is far superior to what I have seen so far among seasoned clerics even. Perhaps it is due to her youthful innocence and I pray it remains that way and she receives more grace and wisdom from the almighty to share with others!"
Garima Satija leads the Entertainment vertical of Indiatimes. A storyteller at heart who enjoys the thrill of writing, she is sometimes found daydreaming about living the lives of movie characters. Also, she hates talking about herself in the third person.
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