Elnaaz Norouzi recently made a stride in her Hollywood career as she starred alongside Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi in the actioner The Fix. While it was released in India the past week, its US release happened in November, and the actor is ecstatic with the response.

“It feels very special. It isn’t something I expected but it happened and there’s nothing better than recognition for your work,” she says.

Having gotten the opportunity to work with a Hollywood legend like Liam Neeson, Elnaaz Norouzi says she learnt from him “the ease with which he is present on set”. She says, “It reflects in the way he talks, speaks, performs and behaves.”

But how are superstars in the West different from the ones in India? As per Norouzi, not much. “They are all very down to earth. If you meet a Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan or Hrithik Roshan, they have the same humility as a Gerard Butler or a Liam Neeson or Zachary Levi. We feel that superstars are untouchable, but they are the most humble people,” she insists.

Norouzi made her Hollywood debut with the 2023 release Kandahar, alongside actor Gerard Butler. Ask her whether navigating Bollywood has been tougher or Hollywood, and she says, “Indian industry has been more challenging. The West is still closer to what I am used to when I grew up in Germany. India was much harder for me to navigate, and it took me a lot of time to understand it.”

The actor, who comes from an Iranian-German descent and has been part of Hindi films like Tehran and Mastii 4 (both 2025), adds that Indian cinema often stereotypes foreign-looking actors in their films and give them superficial characters to play.

“There is not that much diversity in Indian films or series. The stories here are mostly about India, and if they go international, it’s mostly about England or Pakistan. In the West, so many more countries come in to make a movie. So, naturally, there is more diversity in the West than Indian cinema,” she says.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran after weeks of threats from President Trump. In a Truth Social post, Trump said the goal of the operation is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” Trump urged Iranians to capitalize on the attack as the “only chance for generations” to take over their government. Israeli officials later confirmed that these Israeli American strikes on Tehran for regime change killed their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with strikes on US bases across the middle east.

Actress Elnaaz Norouzi was born in Iran and stayed there for eight years before moving to Germany and eventually India for work. Barring her parents, her other family members still stay in Iran. She last visited the country in 2018. The actress shares her views about the ongoing war, reflecting on the deep emotional toll it has taken on ordinary Iranians and urges the world to distinguish between the country’s people and its political regime.

Elnaaz, who was a part of the second season of Apple TV's much acclaimed show Tehran, explains, “The conflict has existed for over 40 years. I was born in Tehran. I spent the first eight years of my life in Iran. Barring my parents, many members of my family still live there. I remember everything. My show Tehran captured the Iran-Israel conflict. Iran is not Iraq. When we speak about Iran, I would like to differentiate between the Islamic Republic, which has occupied the country and the people of Iran. Majority of the Iranian people are smart and educated, and their beliefs are not the same as those of the Islamic Republic. At one point, Iran had a great relationship with Israel. If you see Cyrus the Great, the man who wrote the first human rights in the world ever, he was Persian and he freed the Jews from Babylon. We even had a great relationship with USA during the time of Shah (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi). It is just the Islamic Republic that is constantly saying that they want to wipe Israel off the map. A month ago, many Iranians who protested against this regime were killed.”

She adds, “Iran is complex. What the Islamic Republic has done in Iran is not just create one Nicolás Maduro or Saddam Hussein. There is the supreme leader, (the late Khamenei), there are people and parties under him - Hezbollah, there is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), there is the Basij. They support and back the Houthis, Hamas. They are all intertwined. The Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, his name is being chanted all over Iran. People want democracy in Iran. The Gen Z knows exactly what's right for them. The older generation, our grandparents say they made a mistake years ago by asking for a regime change. ‘We had it so good during the times of Shah. It was secular and diverse,” they say.

Elnaaz, who is vocal about her opposition to the Islamic Republic, claims that she would be killed if she went back to Iran under their rule. She says, “I can’t set foot in Iran. If I do, I think they will kill me. I couldn’t go to Iran because of what happened during the 2022 movement, where they killed Mahsa Amini (a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman), whose death in police custody in September 2022, ignited widespread protests. Arrested by the morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly, her death became a symbol of resistance against oppression. People went on the roads and said, we don't even want this f****** hijab, this is not ours. Back then, I spoke out against Khamenei and the regime, and my family got really worried for my safety. If people die in this war, I'm going to blame the Ayatollah because people have come out multiple times saying we do not want you and they did not leave. It is dictatorship. There are so many political prisoners who are people like you and me. If you speak up, they just put you in prison.”

While it would be naïve to believe that actions by the United States and Israel were carried out ‘in the interest of Iranians', the motivations behind these actions deserve critical examination. Elnaaz says, “For the past 40 years, a large population of Iranians go to sleep and wake up hoping that one day they are going to be freed from this regime. Just like in India, Iran had people from different religions, cultures and communities living there. It was diverse. Iran was never an Islamic country, it was largely Zoroastrian. Iran was Persia and Persia was Eurasian. Before the Arabs came in, Christians, Baha'is, and Russian expatriates lived in Iran. It wasn’t just for Muslims. You had the freedom to wear what you want to wear, say what you want to say. Iran needs democracy to go back to those times.”

It’s a known fact that filmmakers are not allowed to shoot in Tehran, and Elnaaz hopes this changes. She states, “Of course, we have cinema in Tehran. Cinema has helped bring the truth and the voices of people to all over the world. And that has also been the medium that Iranians have used all over the years to speak about the atrocities that are happening in Iran. If you see there are multiple Iranian movies who have won Oscars, you know, and they are all about the terrible life that people are living in Iran. Look at Jafar Panahi, who was just nominated for an Oscar and the Golden Globes, he's not even allowed to film in Tehran anymore. Even our show Tehran was shot in Athens. Cinema can change the way you think so its considered a threat. Iranian people have no idea what freedom of speech is for the last 47 years. It's terrible. And it's so sad that the world has not taken as much notice as it should.”

Elnaaz attributes her life and safety to her parents who chose to migrate to Germany years ago. The rest of her family however still stays in Iran. She says, “It’s a war situation so there’s an internet blackout and I haven't been able to reach my family since yesterday. I hope they are inside their homes and don’t get too excited because of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death. Iranians are getting on roads to celebrate and it risks their life. So I hope they stay indoors.”

To those wondering why didn't they migrate as well, Elnaaz says its not easy. “Leaving your home behind is not easy. Not everyone has the means to move to another country. Filing for asylum is a complex, formal legal process that requires meeting specific criteria. Even the Iranians who have migrated are facing s*** in other countries. So uprooting an entire family from a country is not easy. If you can keep your mouth shut, you can live in Iran. It's still not as retarded as the Taliban. Women can open their businesses. Everyone’s educated but there are no jobs. The inflation is high. Some are taking loans to buy eggs. Survival is an issue unless you have ties with the IRGC or such."

As tensions around Iran continue to dominate global headlines, Iranian-German actor Elnaaz Norouzi says the moment is also a reminder of why women’s voices must be protected and amplified. Speaking on International Women's Day, she reflects on the importance of free expression, particularly for women living in societies where that freedom remains restricted.

“The one thing that’s really important is the fact that we live in times where, in most countries and especially in the country that we live in right now, we have a voice. That is something we shouldn’t take lightly,” she says, adding, “Even today, in many countries, women are literally fighting to have a voice or say what they stand for.”

Born in Iran, Norouzi has frequently spoken about the situation in her homeland, a stance that has often invited criticism. Yet she believes standing up for what one believes in matters more than seeking universal approval. “When you’re standing for something you firmly believe in, and you know what you’re standing for is right, then it doesn’t matter how many people oppose you,” she says.

The 33-year-old says her views echo the sentiments of millions of Iranians who cannot speak freely. “I’m not just speaking about what I feel, I’m speaking about what 75 million Iranians are thinking. I’m trying to be the voice of the voiceless, because in Iran you don’t have a voice.”

Despite living and working in India, Norouzi says her ties to Iran remain strong. “In a free Iran, I will return home to my country and see my family.”

Amid the growing unrest, Iranian-German actor Elnaaz Norouzi speaks exclusively to mid-day about the global turmoil, her stance on assassination, and the deep emotional impact of the conflict. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly assassinated on February 28 in a joint strike by the United States and Israel, dramatically escalating tensions across the West Asia. In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks on US bases in the region, intensifying the crisis.

The freedom of speech never really existed in Iran and that is why we have so many political prisoners in Iran as well. There are thousands of innocent people who have been imprisoned, tortured, raped because they have spoken against the government. At this point, it has surpassed the point of women and men but yes if we talk about specifically about women, women have almost no rights in Iran starting from the morality police going after them constantly, starting with the fact that as a woman you're not allowed in stadiums. As a woman in court, your statement is half as worth of what a man says. As a woman, you're not allowed to travel without your husband's permission.  As a woman you cannot ask for a divorce easily.

If you ask me as an Iranian, who who was born in Iran, who has lived in Iran, who has lived under his real leadership, who has family who's living under his leadership and who has friends who are living under his leadership, I will tell you that a dictator has been taken out, a terrorist that has taken many many people's lives has been taken out, a person who has chanted and has made millions of Iranians chant 'Death to America' for 47 years has been taken out; a person who's been building nuclear bombs in hiding. To attack the American people and America and the Israelian people in Israel for years and years has been taken out. This is a big win for the whole world; it's just that the world doesn't understand, we understand it because we've lived with it and we know it but unfortunately the people just look at it from one lens and that is 'oh he was a religious leader' but being a religious leader doesn't make you right when you do wrong, right?

I receive a lot of death threats and many people disagree with me, but that brings us back to freedom of speech and the idea of live and let live. That’s all the Iranian people are asking for. We want to live the way we choose, and we are okay letting others live as they wish. The problem is that a narrow mindset is forcing everyone to follow one way of life. This is not against religion. I have many Muslim friends whom I love and respect. Iran is home to Muslims, Christians, Baha’is, Zoroastrians and more. Everyone simply wants equal respect and the freedom to decide for themselves.

He is the son of Ali Khamenei. He is another person that was not elected by the Iranian people. Again, the safety is still at the mark because he has the same views. He supports the same barbaric thoughts that his father had and besides any of that Iranians are saying, we would like to choose our leader ourselves. We don't want supreme leaders. We don't want somebody who we have not chosen. That's the only thing. Since when in a democratic world in 2026 should anybody else decide who rules over 90 million people? The people should be deciding that for themselves and the people have decided they want the crown prince Reza Pahlavi back.

The end of the wars in the West Aisa will come with the end of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This regime has created unrest across the region by funding proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis with billions taken from our oil and tax money. Iranians don’t benefit from our own resources. When people protested high gas prices in 2019, it was because that wealth was being diverted to Hamas. So once you remove the Islamic Republic of Iran, this regime, the Ayatollahs, once you remove the clerics, there will be peace all over the West Asia because all the funding is going to be gone and all of those terrorist groups will crumble right because they'll not have any resource.

When Mastiii 4 came Elnaaz Norouzi’s way, she almost turned it down. The actor wasn’t keen to front an instalment of a sex comedy franchise known for its raunchy humour. But a narration with director Milap Zaveri changed her decision about the Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, and Aftab Shivdasani-starrer.

“When Milap narrated the script to me, I realized how well it is written for 2025. The women had so much more to do, and it felt like an equal script to me. I also felt it had a good message at the end and was not like the other instalments,” recalls the actor.

Sex comedies are often criticized for how they portray women. Norouzi says that she ensured the depiction of women was not disrespectful. “The women in the film are portrayed as careless, but not in any other way. In fact, they are depicted as quite smart. What made me comfortable was the way the script was,” she shares, adding that she also had a say in the costumes.

“We spoke a lot with Milap. We made sure the costumes were not vulgar. We paid heed to that as we wanted it to look graceful.”

The actor, seen in Sacred Games and Kandahar (2023), notes that she would like to change one stereotype about sex comedies. “Such films don’t only have to be about men, it can be about women as well. That’s exactly what Mastiii 4 shows.”

Despite earning recognition with projects such as Sacred Games, actor Elnaaz Norouzi continues to be associated with a bold image, something she admits has been limiting. “It might be hard to break my bold image in the movie industry. There are so many projects that I can’t audition for, it is tough,” she says.

The Iranian-German actor reveals this was partly why she was hesitant to take on her role in the upcoming Masti 4. While tight-lipped about details of Milap Zaveri’s adult comedy, she recalls, “I actually had inhibitions initially; I was thinking I would not do the film until I met Milap sir. He narrated the script to me and convinced me that the script is different from the previous instalments of the franchise.”

The 29-year-old was recently seen in John Abraham-starrer Tehran. Speaking about her part, she explains, “I have a special appearance as well as a dance number in the film. This time, it was actually the cameo that led to the dance number instead of the other way around. The dance number was something that came in much later.”

On her upcoming release, Elnaaz sounds upbeat. “It is a cool script. I totally enjoyed listening to it when Milap sir narrated it to me, and I am sure that people will enjoy watching it,” she signs off.

After sharing screen space with Gerard Butler in Kandahar (2023), Elnaaz Norouzi is now set to headline her first Hollywood film, Hotel Tehran, opposite Zachary Levi. The project also features legendary actor Liam Neeson. Confirming the news, Elnaaz shares, “The film revolves around an ex-CIA agent who travels to Tehran to uncover government secrets. Playing the lead alongside Zachary Levi, with my childhood favourite Liam Neeson in the film, is a huge deal for me. It still feels surreal.”

The 28-year-old describes the filming experience as one of the most fulfilling moments of her career. “The director, producers, and even Zachary were amazing to work with. I kept wondering if Hollywood is always like this or if I just got lucky! The film has turned out even better than we imagined,” she says, adding that Hotel Tehran is currently in the VFX stage and is slated for a late 2025 or early 2026 release.

Beyond work, the camaraderie on set made the experience even more memorable. “After shoots, we’d get together and play poker. I had never played before and Zachary, being a great poker player, actually taught me the game on set,” she reveals.

However, sharing screen space with Neeson was the real dream come true. “As a little girl, I dreamt of working with Shah Rukh Khan. But watching Liam Neeson, I never even imagined I’d one day be the female lead in a film he’s a part of. That, for me, is surreal,” she ends.

Iranian-German actress-model Elnaaz Norouzi, who has done OTT shows like Sacred Games, Made in Heaven, and Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond, talks about still struggling to get good roles, her desire to explore different genres and more.

As someone who wasn’t brought up in India, Elnaaz has faced some unique challenges. She shares, “I used to struggle with offers in the beginning. To be able to meet producers and convince them that I’m not just a pretty girl, but someone who can act, was a task. Many people still don’t know that I speak and write Hindi really well. I don’t mind auditioning, but it takes time, and it’s still the same. I’m still struggling.”

She adds, “I started big with Sacred Games, but I don’t expect similar success every time. There is only one Sacred Games. I am okay with projects not working well. Even the biggest stars have flops. As actors, you have to live with that.”

The actress adds, “When I came to India, I didn’t have anybody to guide me. I said no to a lot of projects before Sacred Games because I believed that something good was going to be offered to me. It was hard because those projects were offering me a lot of money and back then, I had none. I wish I had more guidance. I feel the reason why star kids do so well is because they are trained from childhood. They have seen all of this. I just came into this country where I didn’t know anybody. So, getting myself into the circles of Zoya Akhtar or Anurag Kashyap was tough as an outsider. I believe I have done well, and wouldn’t want to change anything, but I wish I had more ideas about Bollywood before coming here. It’s tough to get into Bollywood’s inner circles.”

Elnaaz shares, “I recently did action in Ranneeti, but I also want to do more comedy. I would love to play a psychopath, somebody with a disorder, or a mentally challenged character. I’ve always wanted to act and not just look glamorous. But I’ve been managing both well. I’ve played de-glam characters and also done dance numbers. I want to show that I can act and don’t just need to look good. I love to go on sets without any makeup.”

While many may claim “pretty privilege” is real, being attractive also comes with serious drawbacks, feels Iran-born actor Elnaaz Norouzi. At the beginning of her career, the actor had a tough time convincing people in the entertainment industry that beautiful women can be smart, too.

“I wasn’t taken seriously for a long time. There is a perception that pretty women are not intelligent. By being assertive, I had to make people understand that there is a lot more to me than my face. Now, when I sit in a room with five men, I can lead the conversation. They realize they are talking to a woman who knows what she wants,” says Norouzi, known for her roles in web shows Sacred Games and Made in Heaven.

Norouzi moved to India about eight years ago, as she was “attracted to Bollywood clichés.” “All the colours, the romance, the singing and dancing blew my mind. Bollywood was a dream that came true,” says the 31-year-old.

Coming from a country where women are deprived of personal liberty, Norouzi deeply values the freedom that India has given her. The actor is also very proud of Iranian women back home protesting for their rights.

“It’s not easy to revolt against a regime that can easily kill you, rape you or blind you. It requires a lot of courage to stand in front of them,” she says, adding, “In India, I am free to live the way I want to. Personal liberty is crucial for existence and I cherish this freedom.”

Norouzi is also enchanted by fairytale-esque Indian weddings. “Indian weddings are so colourful, so royal. The fact that it is not a one-day celebration, but goes on for some five days, makes it so unique,” says Norouzi, who wants to get married wearing a “traditional lehenga”. We bet she’ll make the most stunning bride wearing one.

It’s been four years since the first season of Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s Made In Heaven dropped on Amazon Prime Video, but the wait for the second edition seems endless. However, Iranian-German model-actor Elnaaz Norouzi revealed that the show may finally come sometime in July this year, adding, “It is not entirely confirmed. We don’t have a date as yet, but we know that if anything goes wrong [in July], it should be released by August.”

Eagerly waiting to see her episode, Norouzi shares that her story is the “only one shot in France”. “The episode has beautiful visuals and a fantastic story that is relatable. I love my character, [as] it is different from anything I have done before,” she says, refusing to divulge any further details on the wedding drama that would follow.

“While we were dubbing for it, we were laughing and enjoying [the episode]. We received great feedback. I am just waiting for Zoya to finish, so I can watch it.”

Ask her if Akhtar runs a tight ship on sets, and Norouzi claims that she had a “fantastic time with so many women in the crew”. “Zoya provides a great working environment. When you are working, everyone is [on point] and concentrating on the shot, but the moment there is a break, it is all happy and fun. That is the way I prefer to work. Although I didn’t get to work much with Reema, as Zoya was directing my episode, they are not very different from each other. They have the same vision and both know where they are going,” she says.

Kandahar isn’t Elnaaz Norouzi’s first international project. The Sacred Games actor previously featured in the Apple TV+ series, Tehran. But there was something about the set of the Gerard Butler-led spy drama that made Norouzi want to soak in its creative energy. She credits director Ric Roman Waugh for building an atmosphere where every artiste was given complete freedom.

“[He] trusts what you are bringing to the table. Ric sir didn’t direct me [every step of the way]. Once everything was prepared, he would say, ‘I am ready when you are ready to go.’ It is so empowering to know that you are important because you are the one who has to perform,” she recounts.

Also starring Ali Fazal, the upcoming thriller sees Butler as CIA operative Tom Harris, who is stuck in Afghanistan during a mission, while Norouzi plays an Iranian woman. Having shot for the movie in the past two years, she admits that there is a vast difference between the functioning of a Hollywood film set and its Hindi counterpart.

“When the day starts, everyone is in a huge trailer, getting their hair and make-up done. It is like a family [working together], unlike in India, where everyone is in their own vanity van. [This practice] establishes closeness between the cast and crew.”

The cherry on top was Butler who made everyone comfortable on the set. “Before I reached, I didn’t know how he was. When I finally met him, [we struck up an] instant friendship. I couldn’t tell him that I had a crush on him. That would have been embarrassing,” she laughs.

Iranian actress Elnaaz Norouzi, known for her work in Indian shows and films, including Sacred Games, had grabbed eyeballs last year, with her video against the morality police in Iran. In the video, she was seen stripping down from a burqa to a bikini. Elnaaz sure had a lot to say about the now global movement and its impact on her life.

Like many other Iranians, Elnaaz chose to move out of the country. “We fled Iran and sought refuge in Germany because of the (atrocities by) the Islamic Republic of Iran. We just couldn’t stay there. We needed a normal life,” she says.

Bollywood was always a dream, since Elnaaz was a little girl. “I grew up watching movies like Chalte Chalte, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Veer-Zaara, Sholay, all dubbed in German. I didn’t know Hindi then, but I would buy the album and listen to the music all day,” says Elnaaz.

Language barriers, cultural shock and not having a godfather in the industry were some hurdles when she began pursuing her acting career in India. “The biggest of them was not knowing anyone in the industry and trying to get myself into the sets; making my way up in the industry without any contact, especially which was ruled by the Bollywood bigwigs.”

Even when she did make an impression, she feels that she was never fully accepted and was always treated like an outsider.

Elnaaz keeps sharing her thoughts on social media about the atrocities meted out to Iranians by the authorities there – she recently took part in the ‘put a finger down challenge. She, however, says not many people are aware of the actual situation in Iran, and that if her videos put some light on what is happening, that would be a victory in itself.

“My family lives there and I know ground reality – I have firsthand information. Who better than me to protest and highlight the issue? They have started executing innocent people too, and 70% of people in Iran are living in poverty; all this need to be highlighted,” says Elnaaz.

Having been questioned by the morality police on a few occasions, when she visited Iran earlier, she has had personal experience. “A friend’s cousin was killed in the protest. Those who are tortured and killed, just become names in news reports, or hashtags on social media. But we must remember they are all people, they are with us and we know them all,” she says.

On Wednesday, thousands of Iranian protesters made their way to Mahsa Amini’s hometown Saqqez to pay tribute to her at the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period. Iranian police forces reportedly shot tear gas and opened fire, but little could deter the people who are leading what is being considered as the biggest Iranian protest since 2009. As an Iranian woman, Bollywood actor Elnaaz Norouzi says she is amazed at the strength and bravery of those who are challenging the Islamic republic.

“Every act of bravery right now needs to be celebrated. Yesterday was the 40th day [since Amini’s death], and I see freedom coming. I am looking forward to the day the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] is thrown down. That day isn’t far,” asserts the actor.

Amini, 22, died on September 16, three days after her arrest in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly as per the country’s rules. Her death, reportedly resulting from police brutality, sparked widespread protests across the country that saw women burning their headscarves and confronting security forces. Norouzi spent the first two weeks trying to track her family down after communication channels in the country were severed. “We speak rarely, every couple of days,” she rues.

Over the past month, the actor has been using her social media handles to highlight the movement in Iran. While she has found support from a section of netizens, the backlash has been equally intense. “More than half my followers are from India and the USA. I have been posting as much as possible to make people aware of what is happening in my home country. It has cost me social media followers. People want to see glamorous modelling [images]; they don’t want to see [news-related posts] from me. But I am okay with the unfollowing, which has become stronger in the past few weeks. [Using] social media is the only way I can support my people. I can spread awareness through my platform. When I was in Germany, I was at the protests, and went on German TV channels to discuss what is happening in Iran.”

Norouzi is surprised at Bollywood’s silence on the subject. “My colleagues don’t believe in speaking about the situation in Iran. If they wanted to, they would have by now. Hollywood has spoken up with such strength. People on the ground in Iran need their voices to be amplified. I hope everyone who believes in freedom joins the movement.”

Over the last week, there have been widespread protests in Iran and across the world after a 22-year-old Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, died in the custody of the country’s morality police. She was detained for not wearing her hijab properly. News reports suggest that so far, over 40 people have died in the protests in Iran.

The women of Iran have found supporters across the world, as politicians, international organizations and celebrities have spoken up about it. Protests have also been organised in the US, France, Canada, Turkey, Spain and the UK. Among those sharing videos of protests and urging people to speak up against barbaric laws is Iranian Bollywood actress Elnaaz Norouzi.

Along with one of the videos, she wrote, “My Indian friends and followers — I request you all to spread the news and help Iran fight this battle which has been going on for 43 years. Please create awareness, they are killing people every day on the roads and have blocked the internet and all ways of communication so their voices can’t be heard.”

Elnaaz’s family is in Iran and she tells us that she spoke to them a few days ago and as the internet services in the country are disrupted, it is difficult to get in touch with her family. “They have cut the internet so that people cannot get in touch with the world and show what’s happening in Iran. This is dictatorship,” says the actress.

Elnaaz says that while it is “heart-wrenching to see how people are being killed and beaten on roads,” these protests were bound to happen. She says, “We are saying that we want to be free to do what we want to do as women. We just need the world to hear, see what is happening, because they are killing our people. What happened to Mahsa Amini is just barbaric. After so many years of oppression, women are tired of it. The young women (of Iran) now don’t just sit at home and listen anymore. Even the men are out on the road protesting. It is not about hijab anymore, it is about what they have done to our country, the sanctions in our country. The people are poor, they have no money to eat.”

In one of the first videos she shared about Iran protests, Elnaaz spoke about her close brush with the morality police in Tehran. She said, “What happened to Mahsa could have happened to Elnaaz. A few years back I was in Iran and it was my last day in Tehran. I was on the road with my cousin when a woman suddenly came in front of me, and asked me ‘what is this?’. I really didn’t know what she was talking about and she repeated ‘what is this?’. I was then taken by the morality police, Gasht-e Ershad, because my pants (pant legs) weren’t wide enough. They were tight, so you could see my ankles.”

Elnaaz continues, “Even though my manto, which is that thing you have to wear to cover your bum and cover everything, was long enough to cover my ankle, my pants were not wide. I was taken in a van to the ‘re-education center’, where they took Mahsa as well, until someone came and picked me up with the right clothing. Now my cousin was freaking out, my family was freaking out. When I reached there, they took my passport and my phone. The way they scare you, the things they do with you, this is not the way anyone should live in Iran. They take you for the weirdest reasons...your nail colour, hijab, clothing, anything...I don’t want any woman to live like this. This small story was just so you understand that what happened to Mahsa could have happened to me and it can happen to any woman in Iran.”

Sharing more about her experience, Elnaaz tells us, “It is scary, they take your pictures like you are in prison, they take your number, your details. You never know what they can come for. And sometimes, these girls and women who are taken away might never come back. We just want this to stop. The last video I posted on Instagram shows how the police rammed a woman’s head on the road, she might just bleed internally and die, just the way Mahsa died. She suffered internal bleeding because they hit her head. They keep lying and tampering with evidence and saying she had a heart attack.”

In her video, Elnaaz also spoke about Iranians needing help. “We need the world to see what these oppressors are doing with our women, with our people and we are just fed up with them and we don’t want them anymore. We don’t want another Mahsa. We don’t want the Islamic Republic of Iran, we just want Iran back. It is not just about women’s rights anymore; it is about human rights. This is a scary situation. We want the world leaders to do something about what’s happening in Iran and that’s why we are trying to talk about this more. We need everyone to spread the word,” she says.

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Actor Elnaaz Norouzi is spending anxious days and fretful nights as she remains out of contact with her family in Tehran, Iran, amid the ongoing turmoil. She wants to use her voice to bring people’s attention on “how women continue to get oppressed” in her homeland. She explains, “It is very important for us to talk about what is happening in the country because it is human rights violation. They have cut off the internet, so that people cannot communicate with those outside.”

Norouzi hails from Iran, the country that’s witnessing a series of violent protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, in custody. The 30-year-old continues, “I am not able to reach my family. Every way of communication is blocked. Unless we become the voice and make sure that it comes to everyone’s notice, nothing is going to change.”

She recently received a text message from her cousin back home and the message didn’t paint a happy picture. “She got access to the internet for five minutes, so she messaged me and informed that they were well. Not being in contact with them (her family) leads to so much anxiety. My cousin told me there is tear gas everywhere. I am so worried,” shares the Sacred Games and Abhay actor.

Explaining her state of mind, she says, “When I wake up and see new videos every morning, I cry all day. I pray and hope for better days. I keep posting on social media so that I can create awareness.”

Take a peek at actor-singer Elnaaz Norouzi’s Instagram and you will come across several videos where she is dissing her dating life. Norouzi admits that “the reels do really well” and “some of them are inspired by real life while some aren’t”.

The “very single” Norouzi, talking about her dating life, says, “There’s nothing happening! I hope one day there’s something [relevant] and there’s someone [special] and I can then go ahead and share the news with you all. At the moment, there is nothing.” 

The Sacred Games actor adds that, unlike several actors, she isn’t someone who would keep her relationship under wraps. “I’m not one to shy away from discussing my personal life, unless it involves someone I don’t want to reveal too much about. Otherwise, if I’m in love and I trust that person, I won’t shy away from sharing [the news] with the public. For now, I don’t think there’s anyone like that, even remotely close [in my life].”

On the career front, the 30-year-old has worked with actors Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, among others, and admits that “working with such talented actors is something one should value” the most and use well in life to gain much-needed “experience”.

Actor Elnaaz Norouzi, who was seen in back-to-back dance numbers in two big recent releases, finds the tag ‘item song’ imprecise and feels it undermines the vital role a song plays in shaping a film.

“Why tag songs or actors as ‘item’ song or girl? I don’t have any aversion to it, but I don’t agree with the tag either. Each film is a right mix of storytelling, music and characters. Not one can work without the other in Bollywood. So, for me, if I am doing a song or playing a bigger role, for both parts, I have to put in equal efforts. As an artiste, my hard work remains the same and I have to give my best shot whether I am dancing or acting,” says the actor, who was last seen in Jugjugg Jeeyo and Rashtra Kavach Om.

Looking back at her journey, Narouzi feels she could make it so far with the support of her loved ones and her own determination. She says, “I had to struggle a lot to reach a stage where I am a known face. There were times when I had no money, it was difficult to sustain. I don’t want to revisit all that as it’s good to move on, but there have been really hard times I have been through. The struggle is real for actors who don’t have a filmi background, especially in the beginning. God has been kind as I had friends who stood by me throughout,” she says.

The Sacred Games actor admits that even after finding a footing in the industry, she does have to give auditions. But, she isn’t complaining: “As an actor, one needs to continue exploring themselves, and what’s better than auditioning! Even big film stars give auditions, so what’s the hue and cry about,” Norouzi says, adding that she “never had a plan B”.

“I was determined that Bollywood has to work for me, come what may. So, shying away from auditions or running away from hard work was never me. And see, today, I am in a secure place, working for banners that are always on every newcomer’s bucket. I am slowly ticking them off, which means I am on the right track,” she ends.

Elnaaz Norouzi is on a roll this year. The actress was first in the news when the release date of the second season of her international show Tehran, which she is a big part of, was announced. Later, there was a lot of buzz around her when speculations of her new Hollywood project started doing the rounds. Elnaaz has finally confirmed that she is a part of the international action drama Kandahar, which stars Gerard Butler in the lead.

Sharing her excitement about working on the project and with the Hollywood actor, she said, “I have always admired Gerard Butler’s work as an actor. I have seen all of his movies. Getting a chance to perform in a film with him was a defining moment for me. I had the best time working on Kandahar because it was one of those sets beaming with incredible energy. It was an enriching experience to shoot the film. I hope the audience enjoys my performance on screen.”

The film, directed by Ric Roman Waugh, is about an undercover CIA operative stuck in hostile territory in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, that’s not all for Elnaaz. She is also gearing up for the release of the second season of the Emmy Award-winning show Tehran, starring Glenn Close. In Bollywood, she has Sangeen with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the pipeline, along with OM: The Battle Within and a special appearance in JugJugg Jeeyo.

Elnaaz Norouzi, who has been a part of some prominent web series like Sacred Games and other web shows, had a strange, uncalled-for visitor in Goa recently. The actress, who has completed two projects back-to-back, decided to stay back for a few days at a friend’s property at Anjuna post wrap-up. Late last week, she was in her room when someone bypassed the security to meet her. The man, who was travelling from Delhi, was arrested by the Anjuna Police after Elnaaz’s friends registered a complaint. He was released after he tendered a written apology to the actress. His family in Delhi, too, was notified about this incident.

Recalling the incident, Elnaaz, who is now back in Mumbai, told BT, “I was shooting a project in Goa, and decided to stay back in Goa for a few days after I finished my work. I came to my friend’s property to spend some time. I even put up a story on my Instagram page and tagged my friends in it. On the same night, we were on the terrace celebrating someone’s birthday in our group, but I could not stay back as I was extremely tired. It was midnight, and I was on a video call with my mother when I saw someone from the window, trying to open the door to my room. I messaged my friends to check if they had sent anyone to deliver something. They hadn’t, so my friend, whose property it is, came over to check, but there was no one around. In the meantime, this trespasser went up to the terrace and tried to tell the other guests at the birthday party that I am his girlfriend. Eventually, he was caught the same night.”

Elnaaz’s friends approached the authorities immediately. She shares, “My friends spent the rest of the night, almost up to morning at the Anjuna Police Station. Things could have spiralled out of control had my friends, and the police not acted swiftly on this. I could not sleep that night.”

In hindsight, Elnaaz believes the trespasser could probably get past the security guards by talking confidently about her. “Apparently, he had tried to open other rooms, too. His phone was found being charged in one of the rooms. The problem is that the security desk is far from where the rooms are. Since we were just a few people and because he mentioned my name and said that he is here for a birthday party, they let him in thinking he is a friend. The property is at a secluded spot, and very few people frequent the area. My family is very stressed about this incident. My dad wants me to hire private security. It’s scary when people do such things.”

The fresh wake of Coronavirus cases may have curtailed movement in London, but for the makers of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Sangeen, it is work, as usual. Isolated as they are while shooting in a bio-bubble in the UK city, the unit, says leading man Siddiqui, is growing increasingly comfortable with the new normal.

“There was a sense of fear, but we are following the precautions and shooting in a confined atmosphere with a small unit. Here, everyone wears a mask, except the actors, because none of our members are interacting with outsiders. We head to our rooms after the shoot. I am now more confident [about filming] because tests are conducted every week,” says the actor, adding that the industry will benefit by accepting the new normal. The shooting stint, he informs,  commenced 20 days ago, and wraps up within the next few days. 

Jaideep Chopra’s directorial venture reportedly marks rapper Raftaar’s debut as a music score composer for cinema. 

The psychological thriller is the first movie being filmed by Siddiqui amid the pandemic, and has him join hands with Elnaaz Norouzi again after Sacred Games. “This thriller is very interesting and I am excited to be working with Elnaaz again. After this film, I will work on a romantic movie with Neha Sharma. I want to explore all genres of cinema, and play characters that engage me, as an actor. If I play a typical hero, I will get bored.”