Zaira Wasim the Dangal star has been at the receiving end from the time she hung up her boots after putting up an emotional post on social media which pointed out to the fact that her religion apparently does not allow her to continue being an actor.
She has been ridiculed and condemned by most in the entertainment industry for her so-called immature post, and we at IWMBuzz.com decided to talk to the popular Producer Gul Khan on what she has to say on Zaira.
Gul, a Muslim by religion is a woman of strength, poise and great creative acumen. She is the boss woman and maker for many successful TV shows, her recent ones being Ishqbaaaz, Nazar, Kulfi Kumar Bajewala. And it will be interesting to gauge what Gul opines on the girl’s act.
On her reaction to the whole episode, Producer Gul says, “Every part of my sensibility was angered by her tweet, but that’s the woman I have come to become today! When I was 18 I have been where she is many times in my heart. It’s not easy when you are brought up in a particular way to embrace ambition and fame so smoothly. Everything around us tells us we are not of sound moral fibre if we seek success and we are not of high character if we chose career over everything else! And it eventually takes a tremendous amount of struggle to come out of that social conditioning and believe that God will always love you no matter what you chose, unlike humans.”
Addressing the response she has got from the industry, Gul expresses her thought which is indeed a very unique one. “Invoking religion was wrong on her part but unfortunately a lot of successful and grown up people have called her moronic and stupid. I think that’s a bit unfair on their part, firstly because she is just a kid and its unfair on everybody so well-read and so-well informed to assume, that she is supposed to understand comprehensively the politics of feminism and religion at 18! I mean when you are 18 you cannot interpret the weather properly and we want her to interpret religion correctly!”
Answering to the question of whether she agrees with the free will concept, Gul states, “ There is too much unseen pressure on women to want less in every aspect of life. You are appreciated if you talk in a low voice, you are applauded if you quit your job after marriage, you are revered more if you show that you are very religious, you become a role model if you don’t step out of the house too often! So as long as we continue to live in a society that puts a sacrificing woman on pedestal, we must refrain from these two words, free will!. But that just my opinion and I am hoping she can decipher the invisible pressures and is acting on free will.”
Ask her what she will want to tell Zaira, and she exclaims, “I am hoping you read this Zaira. I kind of understand the pressure you must be going through, but please remember that the opportunity you have got has also come to you through God only and there are millions of young women who would die to get such a chance. If there is anything Muslim women need right now is a voice and a correct representation. You are unable to see the power you have and what you can become.”
“Being a celebrity is not just about recognition, it has a currency of its own. And if used correctly that currency can be used as a potential game changer,” she adds.
On an ending note Gul strongly opines, “If your “iman” does not permit you to understand the magnitude of positive influence you can bring about in the entire community, then please realign it! Because no faith in this world says that women should not have the power to change!”
