Exclusive: Mumbai is good, but can't think about leaving Jammu, says Zaira Wasim

Barely 16, Zaira Wasim has already tasted success after debuting in Dangal. And now, the girl who became a household name, playing a budding wrestler, is now gearing up for the release of her new film, Secret Superstar.

Reminiscing about the success of her debut movie, Zaira says she was taken aback by Dangal’s success. “It feels surreal,” she explains. “All this happened so suddenly that I wasn’t able to register it. I needed some time to look at all the memories. But life didn’t change much. It’s pretty much just the way it was before Dangal. Apart from the fact that there are a lot of people who want to talk to me, and click pictures.”

She adds that she’s adjusting to the changes. “I enjoy all this, but I’m the kind who gets nervous when there are people around me. So I am taken aback. I’m still learning to overcome nervousness,” she says, smiling.

Zaira, who hails from Jammu, has no plans of shifting base to Mumbai, even as she has great projects in hand. “I can’t think about leaving Jammu, my home. I’m very attached to Kashmir and wonder if I’ll ever be able to leave. Mumbai is good, but I would never pick the city over Kashmir.

Zaira comes from a non-filmy background, but she’s aware of the perceptions people have about the industry. “Maybe I can change their perception a little by talking to them. They think it’s a cakewalk and know they believe that the life of an actress is very luxurious. I don’t agree with all that,” she asserts.

Secret Superstar is the story of a small town girl, who wants to be a world-famous singer. However, her father becomes an obstacle. Zaira says she couldn’t relate to the character, as her parents always gave her a free hand. “I come from a family where the girl child is pampered. In fact boys could be ignored, but girls are treated like queens! In my family, girls are given the liberty to make their own decisions. My family has been very supportive and encouraging. My father is loving and possessive about me, so I couldn’t connect with the character’s world. My father never hit me or yelled at me, like it happens in the film.”