Zaira Wasim | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wasim in 2019 | |
| Born | (2000-10-23)23 October 2000 (age 25) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2015–2019 |
| Website | zairawasim |
Zaira Wasim (born 23 October 2000) is an Indian former actress who worked inHindi films. The recipient ofnumerous accolades, including aFilmfare Award and aNational Film Award, Wasim was honoured with thePradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (formerlyNational Child Award for Exceptional Achievement) in 2017.[1][2]
Wasim made her film debut portraying a youngGeeta Phogat in the biographical sports filmDangal (2016), which emerged as thehighest-grossing Indian film, grossing more than₹2,000 crore ($300 million) worldwide. She then starred as an aspiring singer in the musical dramaSecret Superstar (2017), which became the highest-grossing Indian film with a female protagonist. Both were backed byAamir Khan Productions and earned her numerous accolades, including theNational Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the former and theFilmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for the latter. Her last film appearance was inThe Sky Is Pink (2019), which garnered her a nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Wasim announced her retirement from the film industry in 2019.[3]
Wasim was born on 23 October 2000[4][5] in theDowntown neighbourhood ofSrinagar,Jammu and Kashmir, India into aKashmiri Muslim family to parents Zahid and Zarqa Wasim. Her father worked as an executive manager atJ&K Bank in Srinagar who died in 2024 and her mother is a teacher.[6] She completed tenth grade from St. Paul's International Academy inSonwar, Srinagar.[7][8]
In June 2015, Wasim was signed by directorNitesh Tiwari to make her film debut with the biographical sports filmDangal (2016).Principal photography of the film began in September 2015 and she finished her part in December the same year. The film, which narrated the story ofpehlwaniamateur wrestlerMahavir Singh Phogat (Aamir Khan) who trains his two daughtersGeeta (Wasim) andBabita (Suhani Bhatnagar) to become India's first world class female wrestlers, received positive reviews from critics and emerged as thehighest-grossing Indian film of all time, earning more than₹20 billion ($300 million) worldwide. For her performance, Wasim received positive comments as well as several awards, including theNational Film Award for Best Supporting Actress and a nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
The following year, Wasim found her breakthrough role inAdvait Chandan's directorial debutSecret Superstar (2017), a musical drama about the story of Insia Malik (Wasim), a 15-year-old teenager who aspires to be a singer. Co-starring with Aamir Khan,Meher Vij, andRaj Arjun, Wasim garnered critical acclaim for her performance and the film eventually emerged as her second consecutive release to earn over₹9 billion (US$110 million) worldwide, becoming the third highest-grossing Indian film (after Dangal and the 2015 filmBajrangi Bhaijaan) and the highest-grossing Indian film featuring a female protagonist. In addition to several other accolades for the film, Wasim won theFilmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) and received her first nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Actress. In November 2017, politicianRam Nath Kovind, thePresident of India, honoured her with theNational Child Award for Exceptional Achievement, for her performances in bothDangal andSecret Superstar.
As of March 2019, Wasim has completed shooting for her next filmThe Sky Is Pink, the biopic of motivational speakerAisha Chaudhary, a 19-year-old girl who died frompulmonary fibrosis. Co-starringPriyanka Chopra andFarhan Akhtar, the film was released in India on 11 October 2019 to critical acclaim, earning her a nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
On 30 June 2019, Wasim announced she would cease her acting career as it conflicts with her religious beliefs and faith.[9][10] In November 2020, Wasim requested fans to take down her pictures from social media as she was trying to start a new chapter in her life.[11]
In 2016, publicity photos of Wasim surfaced showing her with trimmed hair for her role in the filmDangal. This resulted in her beingtrolled online for having been "un-Islamic" by acting in a film. In January 2017, a local news organisation published the news and photos of her meeting with then Chief MinisterMehbooba Mufti. This resulted in further criticism and Wasim receiving death threats[12] because Mufti had described Wasim as a "Kashmirirole model". In response, Zaira issued an apology on her Facebook and Instagram account which she deleted shortly after. But not before the message was picked up and publicised by news media which added further fuel to the controversy. Subsequently, several Indian celebrities voiced their support for Wasim, denouncing her critics.[13][14]
In January 2017, Indian sports ministerVijay Goel tweeted a message "Our daughters are breaking out of their cages and moving forward", accompanied by a photo of him standing before a painting depicting two women – one in ahijab and the other cowering in a cage. Wasim responded to Goel requesting him not to connect her to "such a discourteous depiction" and that women in hijab were "beautiful and free". Goel responded that she had misinterpreted his tweet, and that he appreciated Wasim's work and meant to discourage "evil and patriarchal notions".[15]
In December 2017, Wasim alleged that she had been harassed mid-air onVistara flight UK 981 betweenDelhi andMumbai. She posted a series of messages on herInstagram profile alleging that a man sitting behind her on the flight had caressed her neck with his foot while she was asleep. She also wrote that she had tried to record what the man was doing, but failed due to dim lights. The airline issued an apology and released a statement saying that a detailed investigation would be conducted. The accused, Vikas Sachdeva ofChandivli in Mumbai was subsequently arrested and charged underProtection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), given Wasim was a legal minor. The accused's wife claimed her husband had been resting when his leg accidentally touched Wasim and that he had apologised before getting off the plane at the Mumbai airport, which the actress had acknowledged. The suspect had been placed injudicial custody pending a court hearing.[16][17] There has been support for the accused in the form of a signature-campaign by his neighbours and on social pages with pages like "Justice for Vikas Sachdeva."[18] Wasim subsequently became a target ofinternet trolling, which has been criticised by theMumbai Police, stating in atweet, "It is theConstitutional right of every victim to report sexual abuse and it is our duty to take cognizance, investigate & facilitate justice. Kindly refrain from being judgmental and #Respect the Right of a Victim of a Sexual Assault".[19] In a statement included with the tweet, the Mumbai Police also stated, "Our action against the accused is backed by sufficient evidence against him and it has been under the scrutiny by the court of law."[20] In January 2020, the accused was found guilty of molesting Wasim and was sentenced to three years in prison.[21] On appeal by the accused in theBombay High Court, the sentence was suspended until his appeal was fully heard and decided.[22]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Dangal | Geeta Phogat | |
| 2017 | Secret Superstar | Insia Malik | |
| 2019 | The Sky Is Pink | Aisha Chaudhary |
| Film | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dangal | 64th National Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | [23] [24] |
| FOI Online Awards | Best Debut Actress | Nominated | [25] | |
| News 18 Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | [26] | |
| Screen Awards | Most Promising Debut Actress | Won | [27] [28] | |
| Secret Superstar | Won | |||
| National Child Awards | Exceptional Achievement(also forDangal) | Won | [29] [1] | |
| Zee Cine Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | [30] | |
| Best Actress (Critics) | Nominated | |||
| 63rd Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | [31] | |
| Best Actress (Critics) | Won | [32] | ||
| FOI Online Awards 2018 | Best Actress | Nominated | [33] | |
| News18 Reel Movie Awards 2018 | Best Actress | Nominated | [34] | |
| Indian Film Festival of Melbourne | Best Actress | Nominated | [citation needed] | |
| 19th IIFA Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | [35] | |
| The Sky Is Pink | 65th Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | [36] |
| FOI Online Awards 2020 | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | [37] | |
| 26th Screen Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | [38] |
In October 2025, Wasim announced her marriage through her official Instagram account, sharing photographs from a privatenikāḥ ceremony.[39]
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| National | |
| Other | |
