The 'Sky Is Pink' director Shonali Bose has penned a detailed note on Article 370 abrogation mentioning that she is worried about the well-being of actress Zaira Wasim and the situation in Kashmir.
Zaira Wasim has worked with Shonali Bose on the latter's The Sky is Pink, which releases later this year. The film marked Zaira's last project. It was just recently that Zaira Wasim announced quitting the industry.
Sharing an image with Zaira Wasim, Shonali Bose wrote on Instagram, "#NotmyIndia. It has been two weeks since the unprecedented communication blockade of Jammu and Kashmir. My heart is heavy as the sky is dark over India’s democracy right now. My heart has always ached for the terrible human rights violations in the Valley - right from the times of the Congress government in the 90’s."
"The disappearances and killing of innocent youth is not new. Nor is the opening of fire on demonstrations. But this government has crossed every line with it’s draconian measures. I want to ask every Indian - every Bengali, Maharashtrian, Gujarati, Tamilian et al - how would you feel if your State was split overnight and converted into a Union Territory?", she added.
She further continued, "Leave Article 370 aside for a moment and answer that honestly. For me the shock and anger at this unconstitutional act is laced with sorrow at how our own people must be feeling in this part of our country. Feelings we can only imagine - as there is still a blackout!"
On not being able to contact Zaira Wasim, she said, "On a personal level I have never known anyone before in the State. But now I have a child there. Zaira Wasim - the heart and soul of The Sky is Pink. I have known her and her family over one year - spent marvelous times with them in both Srinagar and Jammu. I was with them in Jammu just a day before this happened. Zaira was very worried that something terrible was afoot because of the sudden influx of massive troops. I reassured her not dreaming something so draconian and unprecedented could be carried out."
"And since then I’m besides myself with worry at not being able to reach her. To give her strength at this difficult time. To wish them Eid Mubarak. I’m sure they couldn’t celebrate it. We parted with the promise to stay in touch every day. Echoing a promise she and her brother make to each other in the film in a brilliantly acted and moving scene. But I can’t reach my baby right now. #NotmyIndia," she concluded.
Zaira had worked in films like Dangal (2016), Secret Superstar (2017) and Bose's The Sky is Pink. She announced that she was quitting the film industry saying she was not happy with the line of work and that it interfered with her faith and religion.