Actress Zaira Wasim on Monday shot down rumours that her social media accounts were hacked when she announced her decision to quit the world of showbiz.
"This to clarify that none of my social media accounts were or are hacked and are being handled by me personally. Kindly refrain from believing or sharing claims that state otherwise! Thanks," Zaira posted on Twitter.
The post came a day after the "Dangal" and "Secret Superstar" actress said she had decided to say goodbye to her film career as she felt her relationship with her religion was threatened.
Her announcement was received with mixed reactions by the industry.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who was in Delhi on Monday for a film promotion event, said he felt "sad" when he read Zaira's post.
This to clarify that none of my social media accounts were or are hacked and are being handled by me personally. Kindly refrain from believing or sharing claims that state otherwise! Thanks.
— Zaira Wasim (@ZairaWasimmm) July 1, 2019
"I think it's a tragedy that a 16-17 year old girl has to take a decision like that. I do respect her sentiments and I respect that it is her individual choice. But as a person, I feel sad that a 16-17 year old girl has to take a decision like this in her flourishing career.
"On one side, we are talking about women empowerment... Personally, I feel she shouldn't have done this, but she is an independent girl and our country gives everyone a fundamental right to choose what they want to choose. But the fact that she has gone all out to say that I am doing this for religion, there's a certain amount of tilt which has gone into it. But she is most welcome to take her decision. I felt sad when I read it. I felt she had to take that decision, and it was not her decision."
In Mumbai, the team of "Jabariya Jodi" was also asked to comment on Zaira's decision. Actor Sidharth Malhotra said: "Firstly, I only read the headline and did not read the details, so I do not know. Secondly, it is her decision to quit acting and I have no say on that. I think you should ask her why she did that."
The dog ate my homework grows up to become my social media accounts were hacked.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 1, 2019
Others weren't as polite:
#ZairaWasim account was hacked. I applaud the hacker for having the patience to write six friggin pages explaining WHY she was quitting acting.
— 💫✨the last pilgrim✨💫 (@DreamsSnowflake) July 1, 2019
Dedication level : zaira wasim hacker. 😂😂
Zaira's account was hacked and she didn't decide to quit bollywood for her religion!! Ok.. great.. claps.. I'm genuinely happy.
— প্রীতম (@Sarkar_Moshai) July 1, 2019
But a doubt:- how can @ZairaWasimmm's all instagram, facebook and Twitter account get hacked at the same time?
Strange. Ain't it?#ZairaWasim
Now she is claiming that her account was hacked and she has no plan of leaving her acting career . This seems like just another public stunt for her upcoming movie . These low life celebs can stoop down to any level for attention . #ZairaWasim
— Ayan Srivastava (@AyanSrivastava7) July 1, 2019
Zaira Wasim has two acclaimed films to her credit - Dangal and Secret Superstar, both made by Aamir Khan - and a third - The Sky Is Pink opposite Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar - on the way.
She won the National Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as wrestler Geeta Phogat as a young girl in Dangal. In her lengthy resignation, Ms Wasim described Bollywood as an "environment that damaged my peace, imaan and my relationship with Allah."
She also wrote: "What it also did was to lead me to a path of ignorance, as I silently and unconsciously transitioned out of imaan (faith). While I continued to work in an environment that consistently interfered with my imaan, my relationship with my religion was threatened.
I discovered my lack of knowledge of the basic fundamentals of my religion and how my inability to reinforce a change earlier was a result of confusing my heart's contentment and wellbeing with strengthening and satisfying my own (shallow and worldly) desires."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Zaira Wasim (@zairawasim_) on Jun 29, 2019 at 4:54pm PDT
Zaira Wasim's announcement has been received with praise from some quarters, tolerance from others and outright condemnation from many who criticise not her decision to quit films but her choice to link it with her religion.
Actress Raveena Tandon tweeted, "Doesn't matter if two-film olds are ungrateful to the industry that have given them all. Just wish they'd exit gracefully and keep their regressive views to themselves."