We do not have a single instance of anyone making a public statement about quitting the field of any art form. In Dangal she plays a young Haryanvi wrestler breaking stereotypes and in Secret Superstar she plays a young Muslim singer who defies her regressive father to sing, and pulls her mother out of an abusive marriage along the way. Wasim’s acknowledgement that her Bollywood work restrained her identity as a Muslim and took her away from the righteous religious path cannot be easily overlooked as a case of individual choice. However, her public statement has far reaching consequences on young Muslim women making unconventional career choices which do not meet the approval of the religious patriarchs and which fall outside the conservative interpretations of religious doctrines and values. Wasim’s public statement and those responses applauding it, must be read and debated beyond just individual choice and personal religiosity.

Source: Indian Express July 04, 2019 13:30 UTC