After playing a fearless wrestler in Dangal, Zaira Wasim will next be seen as a closeted singer with big dreams in Secret Superstar. The film, which marks the directorial debut of Advait Chandan also stars Aamir Khan in a pivotal role. This Friday, that is, October 19, Secret Superstar will clash with Ajay Devgn’s Golmaal Again at the Box Office. Zaira, while interacting with us, revealed that not much has changed for her post the release of Dangal. Quite candidly, she also opened up about her first ever meeting with Aamir while auditioning for Dangal.
Excerpts
How has life changed after Dangal?
It has changed, but not a drastic change as such. Every-time I step out, there is a lot of love that I receive. People come to me and want to talk to me. There is so much love in their eyes, but apart from that, nothing else has changed.
Also Read: Aamir Khan was asked if Zaira Wasim got paid more than him for Secret Superstar. Here’s what he said
Zaira Wasim
Did you expect such an overwhelming response from Dangal?
No one expected such a response. We knew for a fact that it is a very nice story, but we did not know that it would do so well. It’s great that our hard work got appreciated, as given the way we worked on that film, we deserved this.
Do you relate to your character from Secret Superstar?
I don’t relate to my character from Secret Superstar, which is the reason why it was challenging for me to do the film. I come from a family which is very encouraging and supportive. We always sit and talk about what needs to be done in the future, but in the film the father is absolutely different from what my father is. In the film, the father is rude and patriarchal. It is scary that somewhere in the world this is actually happening.
Aamir Khan and Zaira Wasim in a still from Secret Superstar
With just a few days left for the release of Secret Superstar, what is going on in your mind?
I hope we have made the film the way we wanted it to be and hope that the audience perceives the message that we are trying to show them. I hope the film touches hearts.
Can you recollect your first meeting with Aamir Khan?
We were around 19 girls sitting in the audition room and we did not know that we are going to meet him. We did not know that he would look ‘like a ball’ (the weight gain was for Aamir’s role in Dangal). We all were sitting in the room and we see a fat man entering with white hair who has no streak of vanity. He was so simple, he sat with us and started talking to us. Gradually, we became very comfortable.
How different was the experience of working with Aamir Khan in Dangal and Secret Superstar?In Dangal, I see a man who is a fatherly figure and here (in Secret Superstar) I see a weird creepy man wearing weird clothes. He is hitting on every other woman he comes across. But it was fun and I keep telling everyone that I am very fortunate that I got to work with him twice.
Lastly, what was the one thing you discovered about Aamir Khan while shooting for the two films?
We all are aware of how dedicated Aamir Khan is and he is known to be a perfectionist. I think it is not perfection, but passion he has for films that shows across. He loves his work and I got to know this about him.
We can’t wait to watch this fine lady in Secret Superstar.
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