Shiv Sena slams Zaira Wasim for making Islam sound 'intolerant' as she quits Bollywood citing religion

Deputy leader Shiv Sena Priyanka Chaturvedi took to her Twitter to question Zaira Wasim's decision to quit Bollywood.

She wrote: "Zaira Wasim moving on from film industry is alright and the country wishes her well. To each their own calling. However it was unfortunate to read in her letter that the decision was taken on the basis of her belief that it hinders her to practise her faith."

Further went on to say: "Hindi cinema has seen many success stories of people from the same faith, does her reason imply that all these stalwarts didn’t  know their religion?
Some equate her decision to that of Vinod Khanna, did he say his religion says that his choice of career blocks his faith?"

She also addressed the concern of those comparing Zaira Wasim's decision to quit Bollywood to Nusrat Jahan's fatwa. She said: "Also to those who compare it to @nusratchirps fatwa, it is another worms comparison, please remember ever since Zaira joined the Hindi Film Industry she has been under constant attack from Kashmiri hard liners."

READ | 'I officially declare my disassociation with this field': In a cathartic post, Dangal actress Zaira Wasim announces decision to quit Bollywood. Read her letter here

Below are her tweets -

The actress shared a heartfelt note on Instagram that read, "Though I may fit here perfectly, I do not belong here." The 'Secret Superstar' actor accepted in her post that Bollywood has given her immense love and support but this is not what makes her happy in life.

"This field indeed brought a lot of love, support, and applause my way, but what it also did was to lead me to a path of ignorance, as I silently and unconsciously transitioned out of imaan.  I am not truly happy with this identity i.e my line of work. For a very long time now it has felt like I have struggled to become someone else," she added.

Revealing that she tried hard to convince herself that whatever she is doing is okay, the actor further admitted that she soon realised the whole process is making her lose stability in life.

"As I continued to ignorantly pass through while I kept trying to convince myself that what I was doing is okay and isn't really affecting me, I lost all the Barakah from my life. Barakat is word whose meaning isn't just confined to happiness, quantity or blessing, it also focuses on the idea of stability, which is something I struggled with extensively," read her post.

"I kept procrastinating by tricking and deluding my conscience into the idea that I know what I am doing doesn't feel right but assumed that I will put an end to this whenever the time feels right and I continued to put myself in a vulnerable position where it was always so easy to succumb to the environment that damaged my peace, imaan and my relationship with Allah," she added.

Wasim also opened up about how she found her sanity by reading Quran, the religious text of Islam.

"In the great and divine wisdom of the Quran, I found sufficiency and peace. Indeed the hearts find peace when it acquires the knowledge of Its Creator, His Attributes, His Mercy and His commandments," she explained.

"I began to heavily rely upon Allah's mercy for my help and guidance instead of valuing my own believability. 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 well being with strengthening and satisfying my own (shallow and worldly) desires," Wasim added.

The actor further said that she started to heavily depend upon God's mercy for help and guidance instead of valuing her own believability.

Announcing her decision to quit Bollywood, the actor said she was openly doing so not to paint a holier picture of herself, but "this is the least I can do to start afresh". In her post, she also quoted many verses of Quran, including [Quran, 2:222], (Quran 51:55), (Quran 8:29), etc stating that it had weighing factor in her decision making and reasoning. It also changed her approach to life and its meaning.

The actor will be seen essaying a role in 'The Sky is Pink', which also stars Priyanka Chopra, Jonas, and Farhan Akhtar. The shooting of the film was completed in March. 

(Inputs from ANI)