Zaira Wasim
Zaira Wasim played the film’s schoolgirl heroine, Pia…
Pia wants to be a fashion designer but her father wants her to be a doctor, engineer, or MBA, till a video chat with Kangana Ranaut changes things
Incidentally, this scene was shot in Almora, Uttarakhand
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
Zaira Wasim is…
Zaira Wasim is a schoolgirl from Srinagar, Kashmir, who played the teenaged years of the female lead of the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Hindi-Urdu film Dangal (2016).
Bio-data
Born: 23 October, 2000, in Srinagar
Height in 2016: 5' 1" (1.55 m)
School: St. Paul's International Academy, Sonwar, Srinagar
Zaira was studying in classes 9 and 10 when the film Dangal was shot
Father- Zahid Wasim (executive manager of Jammu and Kashmir Bank)
Brother- Zoraiz Wasim
2014: clinical depression at age 13
Shobita.Dhar | Zaira puts spotlight on teen trauma | IndiaTimes/ The Times of India
“I’m writing this to (finally) admit and confess that I, for a very long time have been suffering from severe anxiety and depression,’ wrote 17-year-old Zaira Wasim in an Instagram post on Friday. The actor added that her battle with clinical depression started four years ago when she just 13.
It’s a common misconception that depression is a disorder that affects only older folks, and most teenagers are not diagnosed until adulthood. Wasim, too, remembers “being told that theres no such thing as depression, it only happens to people above 25.”
Wasim, too, lists the problems she wrestled with. ‘Popping 5 antidepressants every day, anxiety attacks... feeling empty, restless, anxious, hallucinations, having sore limbs from sleeping too much to not being able to sleep for weeks, from overeating to starving myself, unexplained fatigue, body ache, self-loathing, nervous breakdowns, suicidal thoughts were all parts of this PHASE,’ she says.
2015: Modelling
Zaira acted in Microsoft Lumia and Tata Sky advertisements in 2015.
2016: The Dangal experience
Competing with a thousand girls, Zaira never thought she would ever get a chance to land a role in the film. But luck was on her side, as she bagged the role of wrestler Geeta Phogat and got the chance to share screen space with Aamir. She completed shooting in Mumbai in six months.
Zaira’s training included exhaustive morning sessions of running, swimming and wrestling. The training made her learn to overcome anxieties.
“Before ‘Dangal’, I had done two ads. I got a call from Mukesh Chabra (the film’s casting director) to attend an important workshop for a week. I went to Mumbai to attend the workshop. There were a lot of girls who had already done one or more ads or serials and I had to do some scenes in front of them; so, I was like ‘there is no space for me’,” she said.
Like other parents, Zaira too had to convince her parents to support her decision to act in the film, more so being from Kashmir.
“It was my school principal and my aunt who supported my decision. They both convinced my parents and handled the situation very well,” Zaira said.
As the word of her shooting for the film spread, some netizens began trolling and bullying her and also issued self-styled life threats.
“Some nasty comments about me were posted on social media. But Aamir Khan and the rest of the crew helped me. I am still getting comments from unknown persons, but I believe in positivity and have learned how to deal with such comments,” she said.
2017: Politics are thrust on Zaira
Some are born political, some opt for politics, and some, like Zaira Wasim, have politics thrust upon them
--Parvez Dewan
Zaira trolled for ‘meeting the culprits;’ apologises
Photo: Basit Zargar
The Siasat Daily
Dangal star Zaira Wasim took to Facebook and Twitter to apologise for her recent actions, which include meeting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
In a surprising move, Kashmiri Dangal girl Zaira Wasim took to Facebook and Twitter 'clarifying' and 'apologising' to people for her 'recent' actions. She met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti a couple of days ago.
Zaira Wasim's entire letter goes as follows:
This is an open confession/apology. I know that many people have been offended and displeased by my recent actions or by the people I have recently met.
I want to apologise to all those people who I've unintentionally hurt and I want them to know that I understand their sentiments behind it especially considering that what had happened over the past 6 months but I hope people can also understand there are certain circumstances that emerge which one cannot control and I hope people still remember that I'm a just a 16 year old girl and I hope you treat me accordingly. I'm sorry for what I did but it was not a deliberate decision and I really hope people can forgive me.
There are few more things which are very important and I want to clear them as well. The first and foremost thing is that I am being projected as a role model for Kashmiri Youth. I want to make it very clear that I do not want anyone to follow in my foot steps or even consider me as a role model. I'm not proud of what I'm doing and I want everyone, especially the Youth to know that there are real role models out there whether they be in this time or in our history.
To even consider me as a role model would be disgracing them and their disgrace would be OUR DISGRACE! I do not wish to start an argument here, this was a just a mere confession from my end which I really wanted people to know. May Allah bless us and guide us.
Zaira later deleted the apology from her Twitter and Facebook. But this is what it was:
After deleting the posts from her social media timelines, Zaira posted a clarification too. However, the Dangal star deleted that post as well.
The [second] post read,
Regarding my last post, I have no idea why this has become such a big issue. I just wanted to make sure that I did not hurt anyone's feelings and all of a sudden it has been turned into national news. Again and again I am telling people that I have not been forced into anything by anyone. This was post was not meant against anyone, just wanted to make sure that people were not hurt by what I was doing. From media to everyone else, please don't blow this out of proportion. Neither was I forced nor am I against anyone. Hopefully this post just stops this once and for all. (sic)
It is clear from Zaira's apologies on social media that she has been receiving a lot of flak ever since that meeting. One comment on her wall reads, "Hmm i agree but y are you meeting the culprits rather then you should meet victms like insha ,she is younger then you sis hope you understand what i said :) may god show you right path and may god protect you ameen (sic)"
Two days later, Zaira urged people not to make ‘mountain out of a mole hill’ asking them to wait until she spoke.
On the hijab
Dangal's Zaira, minister trade tweets on hijab, Jan 21 2017 : The Times of India
Union minister for sports Vijay Goel and Dangal actor Zaira Wasim exchanged polite but edgy tweets on hijab on Friday .
The exchange started when Goel posted a picture from an art exhibition. It showed a painting of two women; one with a partially veiled face, another trapped in a cage. “This painting tells a story similar to @zairawasim, pinjra tod kar humari betiyan badhne lagi hain aage (Our daughters are breaking out of cages to forge ahead). More power to our daughters!“
After Goel's initial tweet, Wasim responded saying: “Sir, with all respect to you, I feel I must disagree. I request you not to connect me to such a discourteous depiction.“
Goel replied, “You have interpreted wrong. I appreciated your work and stated that evil and patriarchal notions must be discouraged.“
Over two tweets, Wasim wrote back: “Women in hijab are beautiful and free. Moreover, the story depicted through this painting is not even remotely relevant to mine.“
Goel courteously closed the conversation with: “I'm afraid you still haven't understood.But I wish you all the very best and appreciate your work.Hope to meet & interact too.“
At the centre of protests
'Dangal' actress Zaira Wasim's pictures burnt in Kashmir protests, by PTI | 21-Jan-2017
Zaira Wasim was at the centre of protests in Nowhatta area of Srinagar [on Fri 21 Jan 2017].
A protest broke out near Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area after the Friday prayers.
During the protest, a few youth were seen carrying placards with the pictures of the young actress and Insha Malik - a 14-year-old girl who lost vision in both of her eyes due to pellet injuries last year.
Some youth also burnt the pictures of the actress, who had recently taken to social media to apologise for her meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti which drew sharp reactions from some of the youth in the Valley.
One of the placards, which had pictures of her with the Chief Minister, carried a threat to kill the 16-year-old actress.
According to ANI, masked men took to the streets and burnt Wasim's posters. The posters read 'Justice With You, IS to kill you.'
Mother’s pro-Pak posts haunt Zaira
Ironically, in the cartoon selected by Zarqa to cheer the Men in Green, it is the Men in Blue who have the upper hand.
Zaira's mother, Zarqa Wasim had [on 21 March 2014] posted two updates supporting Pakistan in [the Asia Cup] cricket match against India. One of the two updates read, "Keep Calm and Defeat India" with "Dil Dil Pakistan" as a caption.
The other post read, "we don't sweat, we sparkle...#Nothing_is_impossible...#Bleed green!!!"
[Indpaedia adds: In the event India scored 131/3 (18.3 overs) and Pakistan 130/7 (20 overs). India won by 7 wickets.]
Because of her mother's posts on Facebook in 2014 Zaira Wasim got trolled on Twitter, the second time in a row, in the course of a month.
Although, Zarqa Wasim deleted her Facebook account after the posts spread like fire on Twitter, the mother-daughter duo received brickbats from trolls on social media.
Some of the Tweets are also directed against Aamir Khan for casting Zaira in the film.
(Some of the tweets on IndiaTimes.com were as follows)
ShankhNaad @ShankhNaad (tweeted)
FB post by Zarqa Wasim, mother of Aamir Khan's #Dangal girl #ZairaWasim. Why Aamir, Zaira & Zarqa hate India even though they feed on India? pic.twitter.com/fcNEnDbNGS
Anchit Pandey @anchitpandey (tweeted)
@ShankhNaad these anti national folks #ZairaWasim #zarqawasim @aamir_khan should be deported to their beloved Pakistan @ZeeNews
aakash pingle @aakashpingle (tweeted)
Bollywood has always extra space for anti indians 😡 #Zarqawasim
Nidin Jacob @ImNidin If you feel so much for Pakistan then why don't you go there.Keep calm and get lost from our nation #Traitor #ZarqaWasim #Shame
Jitendra Raghav @jitendra_raghav (tweeted)
@aamir_khan Finally U earned well wd Entertainment at cost of Defaming Nation's pride? #Dangal #Bollywood #ZairaWasim #ZarqaWasim #India
Sangeet Shenoy @SangeetShenoy (tweeted)
Thanq @aamir_khan 4 promtng such ppl who r disgrce 4 land"Dil Pakstan,Keep Calm&Defeat India.Bleed green #ZarqaWasim,Mother of @Zaira_Wasim
2017
Falls into Lake with car; rescued
Zaira Wasim was miraculously rescued by locals here after her car fell into the Dal Lake in June 2017.
The car in which Zaira Wasim was travelling went out of the driver's control on the Boulevard here and fell into the Dal Lake. "Locals immediately rescued her and her companion. She escaped unhurt, but her companion sustained injuries in the accident," a local said.
Secret Superstar
Zaira's Secret Superstar, in which she plays the title role of a teenage YouTube singing sensation who has to hide her identity in a burqa because of her father's conservatism, was her only release during the year. Made on a reported budget of Rs.25 crore, it earned Rs62 crore. In trade parlance this medium- to- low budget film was a Hit.
Harassment on a Vistara flight
Nitasha Natu, Manju V, Saurabh Sinha | Mumbai police arrest 39-yr-old man for 'molesting' teen actor on flight| Dec 10, 2017 | IndiaTimes/ The Times of India <>The Times of India
HIGHLIGHTS
39-year-old Vikas Sachdeva was arrested in connection with the molestation of a teen actor in an Vistara Airlines flight
The actor had taken to Instagram to allege that a middle-aged co-passenger on board the Vistara flight had harassed her sexually
A case has been registered against Sachdeva under the POCSO Act
39-year-old Vikas Sachdeva was arrested by the Sahar police on Sunday night in connection with the molestation of a teen actor in a Vistara Airlines Delhi-Mumbai flight.
Sachdeva is placed as a senior executive with an entertainment company in Mumbai. He has been charged under the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and will be produced before the Andheri magistrate court on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the actor had taken to Instagram to allege that a middle-aged [business class] co-passenger on board the Vistara flight had harassed her sexually.
In her Instagram live-video post, the National Award winning Kashmiri actor said, "I was in a flight travelling from Delhi to Mumbai today and right behind me one middle-aged man who made my 2-hour journey miserable. I tried to record it on phone to understand it better because the cabin lights were dimmed, I failed to get it. It was all chill till I felt somebody brushing against my back while I was half asleep. I ignored it the first time. Blamed the turbulence for it. Until I woke me up to this PLEASANT SIGHT of his Beautiful foot rubbing my back and neck. Guess he couldn't sit like a civilised human being and placed his foot on my armrest while he's fully PHELAOED his body on his seat."
After the video started to trend, the Mumbai Police initiated a probe. They recorded the actor's statement and subsequently lodged an FIR.
The actor had warned the accused not to touch her but he continued. The police therefore believe that it was a deliberate act, not accidental.
‘Flight crew didn’t act against molester’
She alleged that the Vistara crew did not take any action against the passenger, though she raised an alarm by screaming at him.
By noon, a team from the Sahar police station met the actor at the hotel where she was put up. “After two hours of convincing, she gave a statement, on the basis of which an FIR was registered against an unknown person under the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act,” a police officer said.
Aviation sources said Sachdeva, a corporate traveller, told crew upon boarding the flight that he wanted to sleep and shouldn’t be disturbed for meal. When the flight was descending to land, the actor screamed at the man. “From their jump seats the crew asked the actor what had happened. She continued screaming at the man in seat 2F,” said a source. After the plane landed around midnight, the crew inquired with her, but she deplaned, crying.
Awards
Zaira hit the big time on her debut itself.
At the National Film Awards (India): 2017 she was adjudged the
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Dangal (Hindi) and awarded the Rajat Kamal and Rs50,000/- Citation: 'She portrays a female sports person’s battle with the society with utmost maturity.'
2018, Jan: Jio Filmfare Critics' Award for Best Actor (Female) to Zaira Wasim for 'Secret Superstar'
Filmography
As an actor
2016 Dangal
2017 Secret Superstar
