Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Does Zaira Wasim's decision to quit Bollywood have anything to do with how society thinks women should navigate their faith? Or is it purely an individual choice?
Does Zaira Wasim’s decision to quit Bollywood have anything to do with how society thinks women should navigate their faith? Or is it purely an individual choice?
We Indians live in a society that deeply advocates for religion and faith. Yes, I too believe that faith is something that gives us inner strength, but how do the fundamentals of faith impact the choices of a woman?
Actor Zaira Wasim, who was much applauded for her breathtaking performance in movies like Dangal and Secret Superstar is in the news now. The popular and charming national award winning actress decided to quit her career in Bollywood, citing conflict with faith as an issue. This in turn raises questions of respecting her individuality on the side, examining the choices of a woman on the other and the fundamentals of faith and religion at the center.
As an individual, I respect her choice, but we can’t ignore the fact of why someone cannot have both her career and faith simultaneously. Social media platforms have been flooded with both positive and negative reactions to her decision.
It is a massive shock that someone who has proven herself at such a tender age made such a big move, because she was unhappy with a line of work which she believes interferes with her association with her religion and, because she thinks that she does not belong to this industry, even though she had a good acting career.
Her detailed post on Facebook says, “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.”
Zaira thinks that she was battling to get back her real self since she did not feel like she belonged in the world of cinema. She added that for her, “Success is the accomplishment of the purpose of our creation.”
Yes, she can make choices for her own life but what does this move cater to? Is it a simple choice to hold faith and tear apart one’s talent? We are far away from finding the answers.
Top image is of Zaira Wasim from the movie Secret Superstar
Professor by profession, gypsy soul, loves everything ethnic, believes in love, compassionate epicurean and a smart foodie ❤️ read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
Please enter your email address