Zaira Wasim kicked a hornets’ nest when yesterday she announced her decision of quitting Bollywood. She reasoned that it was her faith that was not allowing her to do films as they were against her religious beliefs. Soon, she faced a lot of flak for her decision and the fact that men of the same faith as her are happily pursuing their Bollywood dreams but her religion is posing unnecessary hindrances on a woman for following suit. Zaira’s decision has received a mixed bag of reactions.
Author Taslima Nasreen called her decision of quitting Bollywood as ‘moronic’. She took to social media to slam Zaira and the people who are hailing it. Anupam Kher also felt that Zaira's decision was unfortunate and he even speculated that it might not be her decision.
Oh My Goosebumps! Bollywood’s talented actress Zaria Wasim now wants to quit acting because she thinks her acting career almost destroyed her faith in Allah. What a moronic decision! So many talents in Muslim community are forced to go under the darkness of the burqa.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) June 30, 2019
People are saying actress Zaira Wasim's CHOICE to quit acting for religion shld be respected.Really?Women are brainwashed by misogynistic patriarchal society to be submissive,dependent,illiterate,slaves,sex objects,childbearing machines.Women hv no freedom or option to choose-
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) July 1, 2019
Anupam Kher also spoke about Zaira’s decision. At a media interaction, he said, “I think it's a tragedy. I think it's a tragedy that a 16-17 year old girl has to take a decision like that. I do respect her sentiments, I do respect that it's her individual choice. But as a person i feel sad she had to take a decision like this of her flourishing career. On the one hand, we talk about women empowerment and on the other hand we say that it's not like that. Personally, i feel she should not have done that. But she is an independent girl and our country gives everybody a fundamental right to choose what they want to choose."
He further added, “But the fact that she has gone all out to sort of say that I am doing it for religion or something like that..its a certain amount of tilt which has gone into it. She is most welcomed to take her decision. I felt sad when i read that. I felt that somewhere, she had to take that decision. It is not her decision.”
On the other hand, Tanushree Dutta who had quit Bollywood on the pretext of facing sexual harassment at the hands of Nana Patekar on the film sets of Horn OK Pleasss supported Zaira’s decision. She issued a statement that read, “I woke up this morning here in New Jersey with my phone buzzing with a request to give a quote on the Zaira Wasim issue. I wondered what the "issue" is as the journalist put it. A quick internet search revealed a post from Wasim herself what I consider the most beautiful, Grace-filled words drenched in spiritual wisdom from the Holy Quran. What a great way to start my day!
“As I read the 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 Muslim kids to the true knowledge of Allah and Quran?? I wondered if Bollywood was just an interim phase designed and placed by God in her way to simply be a stepping stone for something greater more fulfilling and profound of a life purpose?? I kept reading her post as there was a magnetism to it, A magnetism I'm much too familiar with: it's the magnetism of the word of God revealed through a human vessel that has the ability to bless the soul.”
She further added, “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 Gracefull wisdom of the Quran?? If she does she surely has one follower in me. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have this Kid start a youtube blog sharing her faith?? Clearly, her understanding and grasp on religion are far superior to what I have seen so far amongst seasoned clerics even, perhaps it's 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! And now for people who are criticizing her decision to quit Bollywood, I'll say: cut her some slack... she is only a teenager.”
(Source: Twitter/DNA)
