Zoya Akhtar is a renowned director in the Bollywood industry. Her name is associated with popular movies like Gully Boy, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do, and many more. She is also associated with web series on OTT platforms like Ghost Stories, Lust Stories, and Made In Heaven. Recently, Made In Heaven 2 was released this month, and fans have been waiting for the second season of the hit web series on Amazon Prime Video.
The series focused on a variety of topics that were well-received by viewers as well as critics. However, some characters from certain episodes led to some controversies. In her latest work, Made In Heaven 2, episode 6 by the name The Warrior Princess has a Muslim character played by Dia Mirza.
Dia played the role of a Muslim woman Shehnaz who attempts to kill herself because her husband marries for the second time which is possible in Islam. The role of her husband is played by actor Pravin Dabas. The episode focuses on polygamy which is prevalent in some Muslim households. This portrayal was not well-received by some audiences.
An Instagram user hinted at Dia Mirza’s character in Made In Heaven 2 and questioned Zoya Akhtar about portrayal of the Muslim characters in her films and shows
The Instagram user asked Zoya Akhtar to show ‘normal Muslim characters’. The user commented,
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“Can you normal muslim characters in your shows. One positive story that is not oppressed.”
Zoya was quick to respond to the comment on showing ‘normal Muslim characters’ on her shows
Zoya responded to the comment by listing several powerful characters who were portrayed as Muslims in her previous films and shows.
The director and screenwriter replied,
“Laila in ZNMD. Farah Ali in Dil Dhadakne Do. Practically everyone in Gully Boy. Sarfaraz Khan and Leila Shirazi, Kabir, Faiza and Nawab in Made In Heaven. (red heart)”
Muslim characters portrayed in Zoya Akhtar’s movies and shows
in Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara, Farhan Akhtar played Imran, an advertising copywriter, and Katrina Kaif was portrayed as Laila, who was a scuba instructor. In her previous movie Luck By Chance, Hrithik Roshan played Zaffar Khan, and Ashish Sawhny played Tanveer. In Dil Dhadakne Do, Anushka Sharma played Farah Ali, who was a dancer and lived on her own terms. In Gully Boy, Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, both were Muslims, Alia was a brave doctor and Ranveer was an aspiring rapper.
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In Made In Heaven season 2, besides Dia Mirza, the other Muslim characters include Shashank Arora as Kabir Basrai, Vikrant Massey as Nawab Khan, and Kalki Koechlin as Faiza. The web series also features Pulkit Samrat as Sarfaraz and Elnaaz Norouzi as Leila in episode 4 titled Love Story.
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