Who is Zaira Wasim and why did she quit Bollywood?

Who is Zaira Waseem?

Best known for her breakthrough performance in Dangal, former Bollywood actress Zaira Wasim has once again drawn public attention, this time for a lovely new beginning.

The 23-year-old, who stepped away from the limelight at the peak of her career, announced her marriage on Instagram, sharing a few intimate photos that have since gone viral.

The post — simple, elegant, and deeply personal — featured a picture of Zaira signing her nikaah nama and another of the couple watching the moon together, their backs turned to the camera.

Zaira marked her new journey with dignity and modesty, looking radiant in a gorgeous red bridal lehenga.

She wrote three sincere words in the caption of her photo:

“Qubool hai x3.”

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A post shared by Zaira Wasim (@zairawasim_)

Within minutes, the comments section was flooded with congratulations and warm wishes. One fan wrote, “CUTEST. BRIDE. EVER. MashaAllah TabarakAllah,” while another commented, “Mashallah mashallah! Bohot bohot Mubarak ho!!”

Zaira’s wedding announcement is one of her rare public appearances since leaving Bollywood in 2019, and it has rekindled admiration for a young woman who chose to follow her faith over fame.

Who is Zaira Wasim? 

Zaira first gained popularity in 2016 when she played young wrestler Geeta Phogat in Aamir Khan's Dangal. She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her nuanced performance, which was full of innocence and resolve.

She then went on to play a teenage girl who defied the odds to pursue her dream of becoming a singer in the critically acclaimed film Secret Superstar (2017).

As a teenage motivational speaker battling illness, her final film, The Sky Is Pink (2019), which costarred Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar, demonstrated her emotional depth.

Also Read: Zaira Wasim quits acting, announces 'disassociation' from films

When Zaira Wasim quit films

In June 2019, Zaira stunned fans when she announced her decision to quit acting, citing her religious beliefs. She wrote:

“I want to confess that I am not truly happy with this identity, that is, my line of work. For a very long time now, it has felt like I have struggled to become someone else.”
Later, she reflected on fame, saying:

“While I acknowledge with humility all the love people shower me with, I cannot emphasise enough how the praise that comes my way isn’t gratifying at all for me and how big of a test it is for me and how dangerous it is for my Iman.”

Since then, Zaira has led a quiet, private life, occasionally sharing thoughts of faith and reflection.