I Felt for Her: Cancer Survivor Nafisa Ali on Zaira Wasim

Zaira Wasim quit Bollywood over religious concerns.

Actors comment on Zaira Wasim quitting Bollywood.

(Photo Courtesy: Yogen Shah, Instagram)

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. The industry has come out in support of her.

Bollywood actor and cancer survivor Nafisa Ali Sodhi took to Instagram to share her journey with respect to Zaira Wasim’s situation. She wrote, “This is the new me ... older , grey and feeling positive . "I saw myself when I was 20 and I just felt for young actor Zaira Wasim . I thought let me put this message out that work is something which is your choice, it is your freedom, your independent right. There are many pressures young people are surrounded by... but if you have a choice, make you sure you think and make the right choice." "Because I always look back and say why did I give in, why did I listen to my father, I should have listened to myself.”

Earlier, Rangoli Chandel took to Twitter and wrote, “ People should stop lashing out at Zaira Wasim and try and understand her inner conflicts, what is a kid supposed to do if a religion forbids you from singing, dancing, imitating or depicting life? Rather than bullying her we must understand her dilemma. In Hinduism especially Bhakti is all filled with devotional songs and dances, Kathak was a dance form for temples, Mugals brought it to darbars. We need to understand in Hinduism we need not follow any God we can form a God of our choice which is called Isht Devta which means Personal God, today’s day and age we need to personalise realigion and not follow what was established thousands years ago.”

Hansal Mehta and Pooja Bhatt also stood by Zaira Wasim’s decision. “There’s a lot of pressure in the industry. We have to respect her decision. We turn to religion because it offers us solace. I hope her decision gives her peace and helps her focus on her life in a better way”, the director told Hindustan Times.

Pooja Bhatt also said Zaira should be given her space to choose from. “Whether it is childish of her to take the decision or whether she succumbed to pressure is purely speculative”, she said. Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub said she is an excellent actor and it is a loss to the industry.

Bollywood celebrity Soni Razdan also took to Twitter to say that she will “respect her [Zaira] decision” to quit Bollywood.

“I just hope she grows up to realise that if you love what you do, that is exactly what God would want for you. And acting and the creative arts are in no way something dreadful or self indulgent. To make people feel, cry, laugh, think & connect is in itself a noble thing to do,” she tweeted.

Soni Razdan further added, “Having said this I would certainly respect her decision as this business can be hugely overwhelming and often quite frightening. @ZairaWasimmm you’re so young and you may feel differently in 4 years time.. we will welcome you back with open arms sweetheart if that is so.”

Earlier, 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.

(Inputs: Hindustan Times)