Bollywood backs Nahid Afrin, says 'nationalism should be our first religion'

Condemning the fatwa issued against reality singing star Nahid Afrin by 42 clerics, entire Bollywood fraternity has taken a stand for her, citing we are Indians first and nationalism should be our first religion.

Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar said, “I think Bollywood and its artists are the most vulnerable to these incidents. Whatever happened with Nahid, Zahira, Aamir or even Sanjay Leela Bansali is not fair.”

“There are two things, first - the culture of hooliganism is increasing a lot and nobody is stopping it. Secondly, since years, Bollywood has been quiet about everything and this is the time that Bollywood should get together and raise its voice against this unjust, ridiculous and shameful situation,” she added.

Actor Vivek Oberoi, when asked about the same, said incidents like these upset him a lot and that Nahid was being very brave by standing up for herself.

Praising the media for being supportive towards the 16-year-old, Vivek said, “The media is also doing a very good job by supporting her. Our country should rise above all these issues.

Everyone should remember that we all are Indians first and nationalism should be our first religion.”

Voicing her opinion, Dia Mirza said, “We have to work really hard for the betterment of the society in fields of education and awareness.”

“This incident clearly reflects how little our awareness is. Clergymen really need to change their thought process. If a Muslim girl is singing a song with her own wish then nobody has right to stop her or comment on her,” Dia added.

Daisy Shah, who made her debut opposite Salman Khan in Jai Ho said the biggest religion should be of humanity and people should not complicate things.

The fatwa was issued against Afrin keeping in view an upcoming event that was to be held on March 25.

Since the venue of the event was in the vicinity of a mosque and a graveyard, the clerics announced to boycott her singing programmes and asked her to stop performing in public.

Nahid, who made her Bollywood singing debut for actress Sonakshi Sinha in the 2016 movie Akira, first rose to stardom after a successful stint on a reality singing show in the year 2015.