SRINAGAR, August 17, 2026 : Former actor Zaira Wasim has questioned the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board’s involvement in an Independence Day celebration at a school in Kashmir, raising concerns over the participation of young girls in a stage performance at an event held under the board’s banner.
In a post on X on Sunday, Wasim questioned whether a religious institution such as the Waqf Board should be more focused on programmes that promote education, character-building, intellectual development and spiritual values.
‘Why Is the Default Way to Involve Girls to Make Them Dance?’
Wasim, who rose to prominence with Aamir Khan’s Dangal in 2016 and later appeared in Secret Superstar, questioned the nature of children’s participation in public celebrations.
She asked why girls were routinely encouraged to participate in public events through dance performances instead of being given opportunities to think, create, learn, discuss, build and contribute.
Her comments came after she said she had come across a video clip from a school in Kashmir showing Independence Day celebrations conducted for or by the Waqf Board.
Questions Religious Institution’s Role
Wasim questioned whether the Waqf Board, as a religious institution entrusted with serving the Muslim community, should also ensure that its programmes uphold the values associated with its religious and educational responsibilities.
She argued that institutions with a religious purpose have a broader responsibility to contribute to the moral, intellectual and spiritual development of young people.
According to Wasim, Kashmir has a long tradition of viewing education as a means of enlightening minds, cultivating character and developing knowledge and spirituality.
‘The Children Are Not the Subject of My Post’
The former actor clarified that her criticism was not directed at the children themselves.
She said children often simply participate in activities organised by their schools or institutions and may have little say in how such programmes are designed.
“Children are often simply made to participate in whatever schools and institutions put before them,” she said, arguing that the larger question concerns the institutions that decide what activities they facilitate, endorse and organise.
From Acting to Public Commentary
Wasim, now 25, stepped away from acting in 2019, announcing that she was disassociating herself from the profession because she felt it interfered with her faith and religious beliefs.
She won the National Award for her performance in Dangal and subsequently appeared in Secret Superstar before leaving the film industry.
Her latest remarks have opened a wider discussion around the role of schools, religious institutions and cultural programmes in shaping children’s participation in public events, particularly during national celebrations.
