Dangal star Zaira Wasim forced to issue apology for meeting J&K CM

A few days after meeting Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, Dangal child star Zaira Wasim issued an apology through social media, saying that "many people have been offended and displeased by my recent actions or by the people I have recently met." Shortly after her meeting with the chief minister, she was hounded in social media by internet trolls — prompting the statement, media reports claimed.

She wrote: "This is an open confession/apology. I know that many people have been offended and displeased by my recent actions or by the people I have recently met. I want to apologise to all those people who I've unintentionally hurt and I want them to know that I understand their sentiments behind it especially considering that what had happened over the past 6 months. "

"But I hope people can also understand there are certain circumstances that emerge which one cannot control and I hope people still remember that I'm a just a 16 year old girl and I hope you treat me accordingly. I'm sorry for what I did but it was not a deliberate decision and I really hope people can forgive me."

"There are few more things which are very important and I want to clear them as well. The first and foremost thing is that I am being projected as a role model for Kashmiri Youth. I want to make it very clear that I do not want anyone to follow in my foot steps or even consider me as a role model. I'm not proud of what I'm doing and I want everyone, especially the Youth to know that there are real role models out there whether they be in this time or in our history."

"To even consider me as a role model would be disgracing them and their disgrace would be OUR DISGRACE! I do not wish to start an argument here, this was a just a mere confession from my end which I really wanted people to know. May Allah bless us and guide us."

Meanwhile, the twitterati speculated that the extremist elements in Kashmir were behind the sudden apology by the child star, who rose to fame after her part in the movie Dangal.