16-year-old Kashmiri actress -- Zaira Wasim -- has the entire nation talking about her after her commendable performance as the young Geeta Phogat in ‘Dangal’.
The Srinagar-based girl who had a pleasant chat with the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehboob Mufti, on Saturday, ended up being trolled on social media when their photos from the meeting were circulated widely.
On Monday, Wasim took to Facebook and Twitter and posted an apologetic note for hurting the sentiments of fellow Kashmiris. She apologised for meeting Mufti amidst the chaos in Kashmir.
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In her note, she wrote (it was later deleted):
"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 want them to know that I understand their sentiments, especially considering what has happened (in Kashmir) over the past six months."
Also Read: Dangal depicts the story of a wrestler himself who mentored her both daughters Geeta Babita to win the championships
“(However) I hope people can also understand there are certain circumstances that emerge which one cannot control. I hope people still remember that I'm a just a 16-year-old girl and 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."
'I hope people still remember that I'm a just a 16-year-old girl and treat me accordingly'
Wasim also added that being considered as a role model for Kashmiris, she believes that meeting with Mufti was not acceptable. "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 footsteps or even consider me 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."
'I want to make it very clear that I do not want anyone to follow in my foot steps or even consider me a role model'
Also Read: Dangal: The Girls in a Boy’s Arena
During her meet with Mufti, the young actress opened up about many concerning issues, including the importance of educating the girl child and women's safety in the state. Certainly few online extremists didn’t take her actions quiet softly and according to reports, a few accusatory comments prompted her to post the apology.
https://twitter.com/vishalkumarg87/status/820962217071874048
https://twitter.com/nazirology/status/820962259375562752
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We find it very strange of why a 16-year-old had to apologise for meeting the chief minister of her home state? And, why can’t social media, for once, stop behaving like inhumans? After all, she’s just a young girl – a girl who is just being introduced to fame. It is indecent to put her in such awkward position.
She has already been cast in Aamir Khan's next production, Secret Superstar.
Zaira, after deleting this post, shared another post rectifying that she was not forced to post the letter and it was a simple gesture to let others know that her actions meant no harm to others’ sentiments.
READ:Meet the wrestlers of Dangal & Aamir Khan: Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Sheikh
Feature Image Credit: Times Of India
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