Nora Fatehi, who has transitioned from Toronto to Bollywood’s glamour world, has carved her own niche in the industry through her blockbuster dance performances. Despite her continued dance numbers, Nora is now eager to delve into acting, shedding light on her journey within Bollywood.
The 31-year-old artist marked her film debut in 2020 with ‘Street Dancer 3D’ and has unveiled that her upcoming cinematic ventures will showcase her across various genres. Nora expresses that these forthcoming projects have granted her the space to expand her horizons and challenge herself as an actress.
In an exclusive interaction with News18 Showsha, Nora Fatehi disclosed that persuading directors was indeed a challenge, not due to her prowess as a dancer, but because of the limited number of filmmakers willing to take a chance on her.
Nora Fatehi expressed, “I don’t think it’s because I dance that they’re hesitant to cast me. In Bollywood, our iconic heroines have often been dancers who excel in their dance performances. They possess grace and excel in dance numbers, right? It’s just one facet of being an iconic heroine. I believe it wasn’t solely because of that. It was more like, let’s see who will be the first to take a chance on her [on me] and if she excels in all aspects, including acting skills, presence, aura, language proficiency, then we’ll all seize the opportunity. So, I think it was more about who would dare to take that first step, to take a chance on me. That’s what everyone was waiting for.”
Nora pointed out that competition in the film industry is exceedingly fierce and noted that apart from the ‘four girls’ currently securing roles, no one else is being cast. While not mentioning names, Nora continued, “The industry today is highly competitive. Let’s be realistic. There are only a handful of films in a year. Sometimes, filmmakers tend to focus on what’s directly in front of them. So, if only four girls are getting roles and they are in constant rotation, and these four continue to secure projects, the filmmakers’ focus will be limited to these four; they won’t look beyond.”
She further elaborated, “Your goal is to attempt to break into the cycle of these four and become the fifth, thereby joining the rotation. That’s how the cycle continues. It’s hard work, but it’s happening. I’m truly grateful for this. My task is to prove myself so I can sustain my presence. That’s the next challenge.”
Regarding her upcoming projects, Nora shared, “This year, I’ve exclusively been shooting films. It’s been a whirlwind of back-to-back projects, with lead roles. Many of these films will release next year. I’m particularly excited about one or two projects at the moment. I’m fortunate. I’ve waited so long to be cast as a lead in a film. This year, these opportunities have materialized back-to-back in quick succession, and fortunately, they span different genres. One is a comedy with Excel Films. Another is a family drama, which I’m incredibly excited about. There’s also an intense action sports film. Currently, I’m involved in two Telugu films as one of the lead roles. Yes, 100% is no longer an unattainable goal.”
Yet, Nora acknowledges that there’s been a significant shift in the landscape, and she is now receiving substantial film opportunities. She concluded by saying, “I’d attribute it to years of unrelenting hard work. Naturally, ‘Street Dancer’ was a pivotal moment for me before the pandemic, opening substantial doors. I did enact a role in ‘Batla House.’ However, this year, I am finally embracing the lead roles that I’ve diligently aspired to and worked towards for years.”
