Showing posts with label Elnaaz Norouzi interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elnaaz Norouzi interview. Show all posts
Like India, Iran was diverse. It was never an Islamic country-Elnaaz Norouzi
4:27 PM
Elnaaz Norouzi shares her Iranian school pic (She is at the bottom right)
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; March 2, 2026)
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.
Majority of Iranians do not support the opperessive Islamic Republic 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.
‘I am not allowed to set foot in Iran’
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.”
‘There was a time when Iran was diverse’
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.”
‘Iranians have used cinema to speak about what is happening to them’
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.”
'I hope my family is safe'
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."
Iranians want to choose their own leader-Elnaaz Norouzi
4:42 PM
Iranian-German actor Elnaaz Norouzi, known for Sacred Games and Tehran, spoke about the Iran-Israel conflict, Ali Khamenei’s assassination, and decades of suffering under the regime, asserting that Mojtaba taking power would not change conditions for Iranians
Shruti Sampat (MID-DAY; March 5, 2026)
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.
You recently mentioned how it is unsafe for you to go back, has opposing the leader equivalent to losing the freedom of speech in Iran?
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.
Do you think US-Israel strikes to eliminate Khamenei were fair?
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?
Amid the conflict between Iran being an Islamic-state or a Democracy, what is your take?
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.
Mojtaba Khamenei is now the new leader: Do you think women will feel free under new leadership?
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.
Iran-Israel conflict has been a long war, and the country has lost enough, where do you think is the end to this?
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.
Elnaaz Norouzi becomes victim of cybercrime: "It feels like someone is always watching me"
8:19 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; March 24, 2025)
Elnaaz Norouzi became a victim of cybercrime when she clicked on an email that landed in her inbox in January. The incident continues to haunt her even today.
What happened?
The Sacred Games actress says, “On January 18, I got an anonymous email. Normally, you don’t click on such emails, but this one had my password in the subject line. It piqued my curiosity, so I opened it. Inside, I found my private pictures attached, along with a message that read, ‘I have your pictures, if you don’t want them posted online, then reply to me as soon as possible. If not, the next email will be a link with the pictures online.’”
‘The person behind this crime knew how to evade getting caught’
Elnaaz immediately contacted the Cybercrime Cell, and the investigation revealed that the email had originated from a server based in Switzerland. “The response was swift, and they got back within two days. The Cybercrime team found out that it was one of those servers where details of the users were not shared. It means that the person behind this crime knew how to evade getting caught. We couldn’t get more information about the user, but they (the Cybercrime team) did terminate the user’s account. I am worried he/she might contact me using a new email account now.”
‘Now, I’ve updated all my passwords and change them every month’
During her investigation with the Cybercrime team, Elnaaz was asked if she had clicked on any unfamiliar links. She says, “I remembered I had filled out a form on an unknown link. The Cybercrime team visited my home, instructed me to back up my data, and helped me format my devices. Now, I’ve updated all my passwords and change them every month. They’re in regular contact with me and have asked me to report any suspicious emails or messages.”
The ordeal has left Elnaaz mentally scarred. She says, “Now, I’m scared to even open my emails or social media accounts. I’m terrified that the criminal might have posted my private photos online. I go to bed anxious and wake up in the same state. I’ve had to reach out to a therapist a few times to help me calm down. I feel like my privacy has been violated. It feels like someone is always watching me, and I am living in constant fear.”
Many people still don’t know that I speak and write Hindi really well-Elnaaz Norouzi
8:39 AM
Masumi Shah (BOMBAY TIMES; June 1, 2024)
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.
‘Many people still don’t know that I speak Hindi really well’
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.”
‘I didn’t have anybody to guide me when I came to India’
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.”
‘I want to act and not just be glamorous’
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.”
There is a perception that pretty women are not intelligent-Elnaaz Norouzi
9:05 AM
Actor Elnaaz Norouzi talks about the “pitfall of being beautiful” as how she overcame it
HINDUSTAN TIMES (October 7, 2023)
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.
We fled Iran in search of a normal life-Elnaaz Norouzi
8:21 AM
The Iranian actress spoke to us about the turmoil back home, her social media activism and her journey in Bollywood
Kimberly Colaco (BOMBAY TIMES; January 29, 2023)
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.
‘WE WENT TO GERMANY BECAUSE WE NEEDED A NORMAL 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.
‘ALWAYS TREATED LIKE AN OUTSIDER IN BOLLYWOOD’
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.
‘PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE ACTUAL SITUATION IN IRAN’
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.
‘MY FRIEND’S COUSIN WAS KILLED IN THE PROTEST’
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.
Elnaaz Norouzi reveals she has has lost half her social media followers after she backed protests in Iran
8:17 AM
Undeterred by netizens unfollowing her, Elnaaz backs protests in home country Iran in wake of Amini’s death by amplifying their voices on her feed
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 29, 2022)
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.”
What happened to Mahsa Amini in Iran could’ve happened to me-Elnaaz Norouzi
8:31 AM
The Iranian actress, who has made a name for herself in India, says that the world needs to hear what’s happening in Iran
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; September 27, 2022)
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.
‘AFTER YEARS OF OPPRESSION, IRANIAN WOMEN ARE TIRED OF IT ’
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.”
‘I’VE BEEN CAUGHT BY THE MORALITY POLICE MYSELF. IT IS SCARY’
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.”
‘IT’S NOT ABOUT WOMEN’S RIGHTS ANYMORE, IT’S ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS’
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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Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 27, 2022)
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.”
Why tag songs or actors as ‘item’ song or girl?-Elnaaz Norouzi
8:19 AM
Elnaaz Norouzi feels dance numbers require hard work, too, and shouldn’t be belittled
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 25, 2022)
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.
Man arrested for trying to barge into Elnaaz Norouzi’s room at a property in Goa
8:13 AM
The offender was released after he tendered a written apology to the actress
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; February 24, 2021)
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 only thing making me happy during the pandemic is that I’m getting the time to study-Elnaaz Norouzi
8:11 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 1, 2020)
For Elnaaz Norouzi, there’s nothing more important than keeping herself busy during the Coronavirus pandemic as she has quarantined herself at her home in Germany. Urging everyone to keep themselves occupied with something that interests them during this time, she says, “It is very important to stay productive now. In these times, when you aren’t doing anything for months altogether, it’s important to look for that one thing you always wanted to do and didn’t get the time for.”
As for her, she has enrolled for an online acting class at the New York Film Academy which she attends five days a week. An excited Norouzi says, “My class is going very well. It’s very time consuming. We get a lot of homework. I’m super busy with that. The only thing that is making me happy during the pandemic is that I’m getting the time to study, otherwise everything else seems sad at the moment with no work.”
The Sacred Games actor is happy to be making use of her time honing her craft. She shares, “I always wanted to study there. I love studying and I believe that as an actor, you’ve to study a lot. One cannot just wake up one morning and say that they want to act and excel.”
She adds that though it has always been her dream to learn the art of acting, her busy schedule in Mumbai was holding her back. “Online courses are very extensive and I would have to give it a lot of time. I realised that this was the time to do an online course since there isn’t much to do at home,” she says.
She flew home on March 18 just before the lockdown started in India. Talking about the situation in the Germany, Norouzi says, “Many establishments have opened up in Germany, including gyms. Things are back to normal again. There’s no lockdown anymore but you aren’t allowed anywhere without a mask.”
I returned to Germany as I didn’t want to be alone in Mumbai during this pandemic-Elnaaz Norouzi
8:26 AM
Ismat Tahseen (BOMBAY TIMES; May 8, 2020)
Model-actress Elnaaz Norouzi managed to travel to her home in Hanover, Germany, just before the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown was implemented in India. Elnaaz has featured in the web show Sacred Games, several commercials as well as a music video with singer Guru Randhawa. She was filming for a movie before shoots were stalled in Mumbai due to the lockdown.
Talking to BT from Germany, Elnaaz says, “At the beginning of March, looking at the situation in India and around the world, I felt that something like this (the lockdown) might happen. I managed to book a seat on the last flight to Germany before the lockdown began. It was a stressful time, as many flights were being cancelled. I decided to fly home because I didn’t want to be alone in Mumbai during this time.”
Talking about the current situation on her home turf, she says, “Right now, police patrol all the areas here. You can go for a walk, but you are not allowed to be out with more than one person and you need to maintain a certain distance. Also, masks have been made mandatory. Today, shops selling commodities of basic necessity are open, but coffee shops, restaurants and other such places are shut.”
At her home, Elnaaz spends a lot of time reading books and watching acting masterclasses. She shares, “I am also reading a script. We have a garden here, so I have started gardening a bit. Sometimes, I go for a walk, run or go rollerblading.” The actress hopes that the lockdown ends soon and travel restrictions are lifted so that she can return to India. “I hope I can come back soon and start shooting again. I have only a few days of work left for my film project,” she says.
Every time I went to Vipul Amrutlal Shah's office, he tried to kiss me-Elnaaz Norouzi
8:15 AM
Iranian actor who acted in Sacred Games opens up about three months of non-stop sexual harassment at the hands of Vipul Shah
Elnaaz Norouzi (MID-DAY; October 19, 2018)
I came to Mumbai and faced a lot of sh*t. I met him (Vipul Shah) during [the pre-production of the film] Namaste England. My manager informed me that Parineeti Chopra was playing the main lead. And I could be cast as the second lead.
Vipul had offered the role to Jacqueline (Fernandez), who had let it pass. He met me, and I was surprised that in the first (quick) meeting itself, he spoke as if we were going ahead with it (the offer). "We just need to do a look-test, and sign papers," he said, making it (contract) sound like a formality. I hadn't even auditioned for the film. It was weird because things like these take time.
A few days later, he made me do an audition with (casting director) Honey Trehan, which wasn't even for an actual scene. I woke up at 6 am, reached Versova beach; was made to do a few natural scenes, just being myself. The casting director, it seemed to me, had not even been briefed.
Vipul got back saying this isn't what he wanted. I met him again in his office, and again he mentioned, "We will sign the papers over the next couple of days." This time, when we were saying bye, he came on to me. It was too close for comfort. I didn't get the right vibe. He gave a peck on my face. I didn't expect it. I called up my manager after this to say, "Vipul is serious. He wants to sign the papers. Get in touch with him and go ahead." For days, I kept chasing my manager, who told me that Vipul wasn't getting back.
(Norousi's former manager, who wishes to stay anonymous, when contacted independently by mid-day, corroborated the fact that the casting deal was nearly done, and then had fallen through, for no apparent reason)
When I asked Vipul, he said he wanted to conduct another audition. Basically, I went through six rounds of auditions for the film, and he made me feel like the planet's worst actor. My confidence was shattered. I kept feeling like I was auditioning, and not cracking the part. It was only later I realised that this was his way of calling me to his office, over and over again, to get closer to me.
The next time we met at his office, he tried to kiss me. I backed off, said, "What are you doing? We are in your office!" I pushed him away, being affirmative; but careful enough not to come across as rude, because I really wanted the film.
Vipul didn't apologise, though I hoped he had understood (the point). During this time, I had asked him about when we were starting (the film). He told me we would begin the Punjab schedule, followed by a London schedule, and that I didn't have any work in the former, only the latter. He wanted me to get familiar with (lead actors) Arjun (Kapoor) and Parineeti (Chopra). So he told me that he would make sure that I get to go to Punjab, when they shoot the (film's) first schedule as well.
We did another set of auditions. Again, he said he needed to look at them, see if he can do workshops with me, after which, I would be ready (for the role). (During this meeting), once more, he tried to touch me inappropriately. I said I was unwell, and that I had to leave. I left the country thereafter to promote a film of mine. When I returned, and got in touch with Vipul, he called me over to Patiala. It was a five-hour drive from Amritsar. I did another audition there, in his presence. We were staying on the same hotel-floor. After the audition, we went up together. I asked him about when I could hear the (film's) story. He had always avoided narrating it thus far.
This time, he said, "Come to my room. I will make you hear the script." At this point, he touched my butt, and dragged me towards himself. I dodged him, went to my room, and sat there wondering if I should just give in. When I got a message from his assistant to come down for dinner, I thought everything was normal. But I felt there was something weird about him at the table.
(One of the associates working on Namaste England, when independently contacted by mid-day, confirmed that Norousi was in Patiala for no apparent reason. Shah was merely considering her for the part. She was never on-board. The associate claimed that Shah hadn't liked Norousi's audition tapes much. And, yet, she was a part of the film's recce).
For two months after this, I would wake up anxiously every morning, waiting for a text back from Vipul, on when I'd be signing (the contract). He kept delaying it. In the meantime, I had cracked (a part in the Netflix series) Sacred Games. They were keen to sign me up.
At that point, I took the offer to Vipul. He said that he would launch me in a big way. It was a girl-next-door part in Namaste England, and that he was clear he would not be able to cast me, as a result of Sacred Games, and that I should skip the offer, since they would make me do nude scenes. I was ready to let go of Sacred Games, when a friend of mine made me go back to Phantom, and ask them what my scenes were going to be like. I told Vipul that I had no (nude) scenes in Sacred Games, and that I had read the script.
He kept asking me to skip (the offer). He still had not signed a contract with me for Namaste England. I was mentally tortured for three months. It was evident that if I slept with Vipul, I would get the part. Every time I went to his office, he tried (to hit) on me. He (would) inappropriately touch me, and (try to) kiss me.
I want these men to stop doing this, because they think they have enough power to do so. He used my vulnerabilities to ensure that I give in. I almost agreed, at one point in Patiala, when I was away from home and family. I could see that it was a big offer. Thankfully, I had realised that the part was way smaller than how he was projecting it (to be). I wouldn't have been on posters, and in songs. I could have broken (down), and given in. I used the time to understand his tactics instead.
I didn't take the matter to the police, because as a foreigner, I didn't know enough about my rights. And I strongly believe in karma. I know this happens to women everywhere, not just in Bollywood. No one wants to jeopardise their jobs.
The police would (probably) laugh at me. Vipul is a stronger figure. I am a foreign national. They could create visa issues for me. I have had it hard enough here, already. So I was scared. I was happy that Sacred Games came my way, and I could pull myself out of months of depression over not bagging Namaste England. If I was such a bad actor, then how come they (Phantom/Netflix) hired me?
It's okay to be attracted to someone, and do something consensually. But this is coercing someone to get physical. It would have been okay if he had approached me saying, "Hey, I like you, but film won't work out."
But this was his way of keeping me hanging in there, so I give in, and he gets to take advantage of his power — being a big director. It (the episode) took me to dark places. It was funny when his guys (recently) called me back, saying they loved me in Sacred Games, and wanted me to do Commando 3. I let it pass. No woman should have to succumb and submit to get work.
The only reason I am sharing this is because I want these kinds of disgusting people to stop misusing their power. There are many like Vipul. There shall be more stories, if we see that things don't change.
As told to Mohar Basu
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