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Zaira Wasim Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 21, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth23 October 2000

Age24 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceHawal, Downtown, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India

ProfessionActress

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Zahid Wasim (executive manager, Jammu and Kashmir Bank; died May 2024); Mother - Zarqa Wasim (teacher); Brother - Zoraiz Wasim

Zaira Wasim Biography

Zaira Wasim is an Indian former child actress from Srinagar who rose to national attention with her portrayal of Geeta Phogat in the 2016 film Dangal. She‌

Early life and background

Zaira Wasim was born on 23 October 2000 in Hawal, Downtown Srinagar, in the Indian union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Raised in Srinagar, she attended St. Paul’s International Academy in Sonwar and later Jammu’s Heritage School. By 2019 she was recorded as a 12th‑standard student in the Humanities stream. Her family background combines Kashmiri and Punjabi roots.

Her father, Zahid Wasim, worked as an executive manager at Jammu and Kashmir Bank; her mother, Zarqa Wasim, was a teacher. Zaira has a brother, Zoraiz Wasim. In May 2024 her father passed away.

Career

Zaira moved into acting as a teenager and won a major role in the film Dangal (2016), playing Geeta Phogat. She was chosen from a large field of applicants for that part and underwent intensive physical training to prepare for the demands of portraying a wrestler. For several months of preparation she lived with her co‑actors while training.

Her breakthrough in Dangal earned early recognition, including a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2017. She also received the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement for her work on Dangal and later for Secret Superstar. In 2018 she won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress for Secret Superstar.

Before her film debut, Zaira appeared in advertisements, including for Microsoft Lumia and Tata Sky in 2015. Despite the rapid rise that followed Dangal and subsequent roles, Zaira announced in June 2019 that she was stepping away from the glamour industry, citing religious reasons for her decision to disassociate from mainstream acting.

Public profile

Zaira became a public figure at a young age and has spoken about personal struggles with social anxiety and self‑esteem prior to her acting career. Her public image has sometimes generated controversy. In 2016 she faced criticism from fringe elements after sharing photos of a new haircut, and she later issued and removed social media posts connected to local reactions in Kashmir following a meeting with a political leader. In January 2017 she publicly objected to a depiction of women in a painting that she felt was not relevant to her story.

In December 2017 she was the victim of an assault on a flight from Delhi to Mumbai; the accused was arrested and charged. Zaira has also been publicly known for personal interests that include playing guitar, reading, listening to music, and caring for her pet cat. She has described herself as shy with a small circle of friends and enjoys unconventional pastimes such as breaking objects and an interest in turbulent flights and natural phenomena.

Awards and recognition

Zaira’s performance work has been recognized with major national honors. Highlights include the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for Dangal (2017), National Child Awards for Exceptional Achievement, and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress for Secret Superstar (2018). In November 2017 she was again honored with a National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement for accomplishments across academics and the arts in the youth category.

Latest updates

As of 2024 Zaira is unmarried and is 24 years old. Her father’s death in May 2024 has been recorded in public reports. Since her 2019 announcement leaving the glamour world, she has maintained a low public profile and has not returned to mainstream acting projects.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Zaira Wasim, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Dangal

Feature film in which Zaira played Geeta Phogat, her breakout role (2016).

2016
Secret Superstar

Feature film for which she received critical recognition and awards.

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Career Highlights

  1. Portrayed Geeta Phogat in Dangal (2016)
  2. National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress (2017)
  3. National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement
  4. Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress for Secret Superstar (2018)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Zaira Wasim born?

Zaira Wasim was born on 23 October 2000.

What is Zaira Wasim known for?

Zaira Wasim is known for actress.

What is Zaira Wasim’s marital status?

Zaira Wasim's marital status is listed as Unmarried.