Kashmiri actress Zaira Wasim, who played young Geeta Phogat in the Aamir Khan-starrer ‘Dangal’, faced ire on social media for meeting Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who called her a “Kashmiri role model”.
However, the 16-year-old girl received unanimous support on social media, including eminent personalities from the film industry as well as the sports fraternity. The latest to back her is star Indian opener Gautam Gambhir.
An angry Gambhir said that he was ‘ashamed’ that Zaira had to apologise. He added that the whole “episode smells of sexual bias” and that her critics were insecure.
“Calling @zairawasim “unislamic” for acting in Dangal or meeting @MehboobaMufti is naked suppression. Ashamed dat she had 2 apologise. To me whole @zairawasim episode smells of sexual bias. Can someone say d same thing 2 @aamir_khan @BeingSalmanKhan @iamsrk?,” Gambhir fumed on Twitter.
“Men will be men. Insecure 2 see a girl like @zairawasim get wings. Sadly we think “Maahri Choriyan AAJ B Choron se kum hain.” @aamir_khan,” he said in another tweet.
Her onscreen father and superstar Aamir Khan has also opined views in her support.
Aamir took to micro blogging site Twitter to assure Zaira that all of them were with her. He further appreciated Zaira’s work, and said that hardworking kids like her are role model for kids not only in India but across the world. He also called the little lady his role model.
Aamir said, “The beauty is that bright, young, talented, hardworking, respectful, caring and courageous kids like you are a role model for kids not only in India, but across the world.”
Yesterday, Zaira deleted her open letter in which she apologised for "unintentionally hurting" people after her meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, from her social media accounts.
The 16-year-old had met Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday. Several photographs of her with Mufti had gone viral, for which Zaira was trolled on social media.
On Monday, the actress took to Instagram and Facebook to apologise for hurting the sentiments of fellow Kashmiris.
Without saying what she was sorry for, the actor wrote in her "open confession/apology" that she does not want anyone to follow in her footsteps or even consider her 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."
