Dangal girl Zaira Wasim portrayed the role of the young Geeta Phogat phenomenally in the movie and has received rave reviews for her performance by audiences and critics alike. The 16 year old, who hails from Srinagar, shared an open letter to the youth of Kashmir on her Facebook page, but took it down a couple of hours later.
Wasim had met with Mehboob Mufti – the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir a couple of days earlier and during the meeting, she spoke about the importance of education for girls and even raised the topic of women’s safety. She was unfortunately trolled after the meeting and this upset Zaira.
This is what she wrote in her letter.
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…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 as a role model. I’m not proud of what I am doing but I want everyone, especially the Youth to know that there are real role models out there…To even consider me as a role model would be disgracing them and their disgrace would be OUR DISGRACE!
Here’s the full note.
Zaira Wasim,who played young Geeta in ‘Dangal’ apologises on social media,says “Many offended by my recent actions or by ppl I recently met” pic.twitter.com/VKn72xqtgj
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2017
Aww. We wonder what happened that she’s so upset. 🙁