A Bollywood actress who starred in India's highest-grossing movie said she is quitting acting because it is incompatible with her Islamic faith, sparking a social media storm.

Zaira Wasim, 18, best known for her role as a wrestler in the 2016 film "Dangal," announced her "disassociation" from acting on Sunday.

"This field indeed brought a lot of love, support and applause my way, but what it also did was to lead me to a path of ignorance, as I silently and unconsciously transitioned out of imaan," she said, referring to her faith.

"While I continued to work in an environment that consistently interfered with my imaan, my relationship with my religion was threatened," she said in simultaneous posts on her social media profiles.

On Instagram alone, her post drew more than 27,000 comments.

Wasim’s manager confirmed the announcement.

"Her posts are genuine and written in the state of mind she is currently in. Let's give her time and space," said Tuhin Mishra, managing director of Baseline Ventures.

Wasim's last film was the 2017 drama "Secret Superstar," in which she played a Muslim teenager who sings surreptitiously because her abusive father will not allow it.

She won several awards for the film.

Veteran Indian actress Raveena Tandon commented: "Exit is your choice, reason, by all means. Just do not demean it for everyone else. The industry where all work shoulder to shoulder, no differences, caste, religion or where you come from."

Twitter user Ifra Jan said Wasim's decision would make it harder for other Muslim women to pursue an acting career.

Others rallied to her defense.

"It's her life to do with as she pleases. All I will do is (to) wish her well & hope that whatever she does makes her happy," tweeted former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah.