Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) is set to file a chargesheet next week against Mohammad Salim Mohammad Suhail Shaikh alias Lavish, a close aide of fugitive drug kingpin Salim Dola, in connection with a 2022 drug manufacturing and distribution case.

Shaikh, who was deported from the UAE, is alleged to be a key operative in an international narcotics network linked to the Dawood Ibrahim gang. According to police sources, the chargesheet will detail the trafficking syndicate, including manufacturing units, supply chains and financial routes.

The names of celebrities Nora Fatehi, Shraddha Kapoor and her brother Siddhanth Kapoor, as well as social media influencer Orhan Awatramani alias Orry, had surfaced during the investigation. The chargesheet is expected to reference Siddhanth Kapoor and Orry, both of whom were questioned by the ANC last year.

According to Lavish, film producer duo Abbas-Mustan, rapper Loka and NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique were among prominent personalities who attended his parties in Mumbai, Goa and Dubai.

“At this stage, there is no substantive evidence to establish their (celebrities’) involvement. Statements made by an accused require independent corroboration,” a senior officer said.

“I have never been involved in such activities. I was, in fact, surprised to see my name on television. I did not pay much attention to it because I have never attended such parties, nor is it part of my lifestyle. Therefore, it is essential that any allegations are verified before being made,” Siddique, a former legislator, told Mumbai Mirror on Friday.

The case traces its origins to an August 2022 operation by the ANC, in which a Mumbai-based man was arrested with mephedrone, leading to the unravelling of a larger drug distribution network. Further investigation pointed to handlers operating from Dubai, with hawala channels allegedly used to transfer proceeds.

A major breakthrough came in March 2024, when a mephedrone manufacturing unit in Sangli district was busted, resulting in the seizure of drugs and assets worth over Rs 250 crore. Investigators believe the facility was linked to a network allegedly controlled by Dola and his associates.

Subsequent raids in Mira Road led to the recovery of 3 kg of MD and Rs 3.68 lakh in cash. Further investigations revealed that 30 kg of MD had already been distributed to operatives in Surat.

Among those arrested was Parveen Bano Ghulam Sheikh, who was allegedly found in possession of 641 grams of MD, Rs 12.2 lakh in cash, gold jewellery and a mobile phone.

During interrogation, she is said to have confessed to acting under instructions from Dubai-based accused Dola and Salim Sheikh, along with their Indian associate Sajid Mohammad Asif Sheikh alias Dabs.

The probe also revealed that the syndicate allegedly sourced raw materials from industrial hubs in Gujarat, manufactured drugs in interior Maharashtra, and transported consignments using luxury vehicles to evade suspicion. The network is believed to have supplied narcotics across Mumbai and nearby regions, with funds routed abroad through illegal channels.

Officials said the chargesheet will primarily focus on establishing the role of Shaikh and other accused in the narcotics network, including their alleged links to international handlers and organised crime syndicates.

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Actor Nora Fatehi has addressed the backlash over her earlier remarks on feminism, saying her comments were taken out of context and amplified through social media clips. Speaking to Lilly Singh on her podcast, Nora said the conversation around her views was “blown out of proportion”.

“I had a podcast last year where we spoke about feminism, and then small clips came out on reels and TikTok and got blown up. People miss the context,” she said, adding that she is opposed to “extremism” rather than feminism itself.

Nora, who was raised by a single parent, said her views are shaped by her personal experiences: “I know how important it is to have the presence of two parents, whether it’s a mom and a dad, or two moms or two dads… a family that offers security, love, attention and discipline. That’s what I advocate for.”

She added that she approaches the issue from a child’s perspective. “I would have loved to grow up in a home with two parents because that emotional baggage can spill over into adulthood. I would hate for us to live in a world where people stop valuing families,” she said.

At the same time, Nora emphasised the need for balance. “Get your money, fulfil your dreams and work hard. But we also need an environment where men are accountable and step up. Why can’t we be independent, strong and still need each other? Why can’t we share and create balance?” she said.

Her clarification comes months after her comments on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, where she had said, “This idea of ‘I don’t need anybody’… I don’t believe in this. In fact, I think feminism messed up our society completely,” drawing mixed reactions online.

World Cups are usually a quadrennial affair. But in Nora Fatehi’s calendar, they are turning out to be a much more frequent event. In February, the actor and dancer performed at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup’s opening ceremony in Mumbai. Is another World Cup outing on the cards? That’s what we’ve heard. mid-day has learnt that Fatehi has been approached to perform at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

According to sources, her act will be held at the Toronto Stadium in Canada on June 12, before the host country plays its opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This has been lined up a day after the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony takes place at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. 

A source told mid-day, “Nora has been approached to take part in the ceremony before Canada’s first match. As one of the three countries hosting the football World Cup, Canada is planning a grand entertainment launch on June 12. Nora has a busy work schedule in June. So, she is weighing in on the situation. That said, she will most likely perform at FIFA as it’s an extremely prestigious event.”

After she gives her nod, Fatehi will zero in on the songs she will be shaking a leg to.

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If things work out, this will be Nora Fatehi’s second appearance at the FIFA World Cup. The actor and dancer had performed at the closing ceremony of the 2022 edition in Qatar

New Delhi: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to ministry of information & broadcasting, Censor Board and IT ministry over a song from “KD - The Devil”.

NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said the commission has asked that the allegedly obscene lyrics should be removed and questioned how the Censor Board allowed its release. If there are any officials of Censor Board involved in this, then action should be taken against them too, he told news agency ANI.

The film features actors Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt.

“We got a complaint from Gems Of Bollywood and Rashtra Jyoti organization that a song has been released on YouTube in which very obscene lyrics have been used. In this song, women are described as objects, women’s garments are discussed,” Kanoongo said.

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Hours before sharing the stage with David Guetta at Sunburn, actor-singer Nora Fatehi was involved in a car accident.

Sharing details on Instagram Stories, Nora (33) said that her car was hit by a drunk driver, resulting in a severe impact that caused her to hit her head against the window. “Except for some minor injuries, swelling and a slight concussion, I’m okay... That could have ended terribly. This is why you should not drink and drive,” she added.

Nora also shared her views on alcohol and substance use: “I have never liked the idea of alcohol, drugs, or anything that put you in a different state of mind... You should not drink and drive. It’s 2025. I cannot believe that this is even a conversation.”

Calling it a “very scary, terrifying, traumatic moment”, she ended with: “I’m not going to lie. I’m still slightly traumatised.”

Nora was taken to a nearby hospital for first aid. Meanwhile, Mumbai Police registered a case against the driver, charging him under sections related to rash driving and driving under the influence.

Mumbai Police has uncovered a major drug racket, with remand documents naming several high-profile individuals, including actors Shraddha Kapoor, Nora Fatehi, and Alishah Parkar, who is the nephew of underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim, reported India Today. The racket is allegedly run by Mohammed Salim Mohammed Suhail Shaikh, also known as Lavish. As per investigation papers, Salim is accused of organising and supplying drugs at high-profile parties held across India and overseas, with officials adding verification is underway.

As the controversy escalated, Nora became one of the first celebrities to respond publicly. In a strongly worded Instagram Stories (see inset above), she denied any involvement, writing that she “doesn’t have a personal life”, spends her “entire days and nights working on my dreams and goals”, and has “no time for such associations”. She added, “It seems like my name is an easy target! But I won’t allow it to happen this time!”

Officials told PTI that during interrogation, Salim claimed to have organized drug-fuelled parties involving film and fashion celebrities as well as underworld-linked individuals, allegations now forming the basis of a widening probe.

The Mumbai Crime Branch is expected to summon all celebrities named in the documents to record their statements as part of the ongoing investigation. So far, neither Shraddha nor her representatives have issued any public response to the allegations.

While Nora Fatehi has taken on roles in films like Bhuj: The Pride of India and Madgaon Express, this year she is looking to strengthen her presence in films. The actress, known for dance numbers such as Dilbar, O Saki Saki and Hai Garmi, is set to make her Tamil cinema debut with Kanchana 4. Excerpts from a quick chat.

As someone of Moroccan-Canadian origin, venturing into a new industry came with its own set of challenges, but Nora embraced them. She says, “South Indian cinema has always fascinated me — not just for its scale and storytelling, but also for the sheer passion and discipline that goes into every frame. Kanchana 4 was an opportunity to push myself creatively and take on a role that’s intense, performance-driven and rooted in a different cultural rhythm. Learning Tamil was definitely one of the bigger challenges. I spent a lot of time preparing for it. On set, I noticed how focused and technically precise the Tamil film crew is — there’s a quiet intensity, a respect for craft and a collaborative environment. It’s been a humbling learning experience.”

Nora recalls that she was tough on herself when she started her career in Bollywood. “In the early years, I was extremely hard on myself,” she says, adding, “I had this constant pressure to prove myself and never show weakness. I was in a new country, in a competitive industry and with no connections. So, I pushed myself beyond limits, physically and emotionally. There was no room for failure or even self-compassion. Success to me isn’t just about fame or followers. It’s about legacy. It’s about how many boundaries I’ve broken, how many young girls I’ve inspired — especially those who feel like outsiders. It’s about being respected for my work ethic and for always showing up, regardless of the challenges.”

The actress, who attended the Paris Fashion Week earlier this year, says that for her, fashion has a deeper meaning.

“I never wanted to just fit in; I wanted to stand out. Whether it was on the dance floor, in music, or in fashion, I’ve always approached everything like an artiste — with intention, vision and ambition. For me, stardom is about bridging cultures, breaking stereotypes and showing that talent doesn’t need to come in one specific form or background. I’ve embraced who I am — Moroccan roots, Canadian upbringing, Indian dreams — and blended all of that into my work. That fusion is my strength.”

Nora Fatehi has already made her mark as a performer with viral hits like Dilbar (Satyameva Jayate, 2018), O Saki Saki (Batla House, 2019), Garmi (Street Dancer 3D, 2020), and most recently with Oh Mama! Tetema. Now, with films like Kanchana 4 lined up, she aims to prove herself as an actor. So, does she feel her dancing skills have limited filmmakers from seeing her in diverse roles?

The 33-year-old quips, “When you’re known for something so strongly, people can tend to put you in a box. But I see dance as a strength, not a limitation. It opened doors for me, and now it’s up to me to prove myself with roles that showcase my acting as well. I feel makers are slowly beginning to see that I can bring more to the table than just dancing.”

But that doesn’t mean Nora will ever separate herself from her passion for dance. In fact, she’s planning to open her own dance academy soon. She confirms, “I have been thinking about starting my own worldwide dance academy for years! That’s why I started the #dancewithnora community. This community is real; it’s a connection, it’s a feeling, it’s our own world where we encourage and inspire. This is the seed for the academy. One day, I know it’s going to happen… I am just waiting for the right moment.”

Given that she built her career independently, Nora surely received plenty of advice along the way, some even on how to shape her image. She laughs, “Oh yes, I’ve heard all sorts of advice in my early years, and looking back, I find them quite funny. I think what really works is being yourself and embracing your ambitions. At the end of the day, nobody wants a copy of someone else; it’s your uniqueness that makes you stand out.”

For Nora Fatehi, International Dance Day is more than just a celebration — it’s a tribute to the journey that shaped her. She began her career in the entertainment industry as a background dancer, but through hard work and passion, she has evolved into a dynamic performer on stage, who is now also dabbling in singing and acting. Known for setting the screen on fire with hits like Dilbar, O Saki Saki and Naach Meri Rani, Nora reflects on how dance has been a constant force in her life, shaping her from a young dreamer into the performer she is today.

Given that her career revolves around dance, it’s no surprise that Nora feels excited to see the world take a moment to celebrate the art form. She says, “For me, dance is an emotion, a language of expression, and honestly, it’s my soul on stage. International Dance Day is a reminder of how deeply dance connects us — no matter where we’re from, what language we speak or what style we move in.”

Reflecting on how it all began, Nora shares how she was drawn to this art form since an early age. “I’ve always said dance wasn’t just something that I liked, it was in me. As a little girl, I would watch music videos on TV and be mesmerized by how people could express so much without even saying a word. That was the spark. I didn’t grow up in an environment where dance was encouraged as a career, but I knew, deep down, that I was born to perform. The energy, the freedom, the storytelling… it just called out to me. I knew this was my path when I saw the crowd’s reaction to the first time I performed in front of an audience. The connection was magic. I didn’t just want to be a part of the world of dance — I wanted to shake it up,” says Nora, whose music video Snake, which she also sang and appeared in with Jason Derulo set a new benchmark in her international music career.

While Nora is loved for her high-energy performances in hits like Kusu Kusu and Kamariya, she admits that classical Indian dance forms challenge her like no other. “The precision, the grace, the deep cultural history — it demands so much discipline and respect. I’m still learning and never want to stop. Other dance forms like urban fusion, Afro styles, belly dance and hip hop are like speaking a native language — fluid, instinctive, raw,” explains Nora, who also connects with her fans through her campaign Dance With Nora.

Nora made Mumbai her home a decade ago and she’s worked across film industries in India. Recalling the moment she truly felt embraced, she says, “Coming from Toronto and entering this huge, vibrant world of Bollywood was a dream. I felt the acceptance and love from the Indian audience after Dilbar (Satyameva Jayate). People embraced not just the song, but me — my style, energy and persona. I feel incredibly grateful and proud of how far I’ve come."

It would have to be Hrithik Roshan — his energy, precision and effortless style would be a dream to match on screen.

Madhuri Dixit ma’am, as she brings such grace and intensity to her performances. It would be an electrifying clash of styles — her elegance and my fire would be an incredible experience. I think the audience would love it.

Nora Fatehi is miffed with certain PR campaigns that put her down to favour her contemporaries. Without taking names, the actor-dancer recently accused some actors of paying agencies to market songs using her name.

“When they want to market a song (featuring somebody else), they think, ‘Let’s compare it to Nora’, and I don’t like that. All PR agencies are doing it. If a new song is coming out, they’ll be like, ‘Nora’s career is over’, or ‘She can eat 100 Noras for breakfast’. I know who is behind this, and I know how much you have to pay to do that,” the 33-year-old told BBC Asian Network.

She continued, “I get a lot of PR packages convincing me to do the same, but I refuse. I won’t compare myself to anyone or bring someone else down. If a song is going to work, it should be because people appreciate my talent, not because they’re excited to replace someone else — that’s just ridiculous.”

This, Nora said, was a pattern that she observed while she was resting due to an ankle injury. A Reddit user shared a clip of the interview, sparking speculation about who she was referring to. One comment read, “(I have seen) posts comparing certain actors to Nora, and I also saw comments saying ‘Nora’s career is over’ recently”. Another user also agreed with the actor, saying, “She is right, that happens”.

Nora Fatehi has been a part of multiple acting gigs including one with Ajay Devgn - Bhuj: The Pride of India, and another one with Salman Khan - Bharat. However, Nora is primarily remembered for her hit tracks. Whether it is Dilbar or O Saki Saki , Nora has been the go-to girl for hit dance tracks in the Hindi film industry. With Madgaon Express getting her laurels for her acting chops and her signing with a music label, Nora is now on her way to prove her mettle as an actress and singer.

Ask her if that means she would take a step back from songs and doing special appearances and she replies, “I'm not going to take a step back from anything.”

Nora further explains, “I've solidified my brand as Nora Fatehi – someone who is multidimensional, multifaceted, doing more than one thing, and is an entertainer. You're going to see me doing films, the songs, and you're going to see me working on my international career as a global music star. You're going to see me doing the biggest stage performances in the biggest arenas and stadiums. This is who I'm going to be. It's a breath of fresh air to see that these kinds of artists can exist in Bollywood. They exist in Hollywood. So why can't they exist in Bollywood? I'm pretty sure we have some actors who could be great entertainers and performers. But there is this fear of being typecast, which is our industry's fault. They should never have created these stereotypes to begin with. You never know, we could be having a Lady Gaga right now in our industry, right? I feel I'm here to break stereotypes. I'm here to break this narrow-minded way of thinking. When it comes to art, it cannot be one-dimensional. And this is my goal.”

As the actress is set to embark on her new journey of striving to be a global phenomenon, she looks back at the journey so far. It's been 10 years since Nora marked her debut in Hindi movies with the rather forgettable Roar: Tigers Of The Sundarbans.

She recalls, “It's been a roller coaster ride. I still remember not even knowing or understanding the ABCD of a camera or how to be on a set. It was all so new to me. I remember for my first scene in that film, the director called ‘cut’ and I immediately cut. I immediately just got out of character. He had to come to me and say, ‘Sweetie, when we say cut, you have to wait a good four or five seconds, then you break out’. I didn't know that. So, there was so much I didn't know that I was learning on set. Learning through experience. Nonetheless, I would look at these 10 years and say, let's add another five years and this will be documentary-worthy.”

Ask her if there was ever a documentary made as she claims, which part of her career would be the toughest for her to open up about, and she replies, “Probably the last four or five years. So much has happened that nobody knows about – inside out in my personal life. The last four or five years have been really insane. That would be a little tough for me to open up about. But if I'm ever going do a documentary, then I'll have to be honest with the people.”

The Moroccan descent Nora was born and raised in Canada. Moving to another country for a career must have been a tough decision not only for her but also for her family. For the first time, she opens up about her family and what they think about her success.

“Initially, obviously when I was embarking on this journey, all of them thought I was crazy. No one was supporting me at all and I don't blame them. Just the idea of someone going to the other side of the world with no friends, no family, no contact, no relations is insane. It's almost like deadly. I come from a very conservative and simple background. My family and the family before them had a very simple way of approaching life – get older, get married, have kids. That is it. I'm the only one who kind of came out of the edge and decided to do something that is not even thinkable. They're not very expressive but I'm sure they're supportive, they're proud and sometimes a little surprised at the level of where allI can go. When I'm with them, and we go to Dubai or Morocco or Canada they see the fandom. They are overwhelmed and they're like, ‘How is this even possible?’ It is very new to them. I think it serves as a sign or makes me the poster girl in my family for my cousins and my nieces. All the girls and the boys in my family who are younger can believe in themselves," she concludes.

Nora Fatehi, who has always grabbed everyone’s attention with her amazing dance moves, believes that a new phase in her career has begun and now, she’s geared up to push her boundaries as an actor. In a chat with us, Nora, who rose to fame with songs like O Saki Saki, Garmi and Nach Meri Rani, talks about the ups and downs in her 10-year-long journey in showbiz and the road ahead. Excerpts:

Taking pride in making it on her own in the industry, she says, “I never needed a godfather here. I have always believed in myself. When I pitch myself to makers, I tell them, ‘This is why you need to take me. This is what I bring to the table. This is what I can offer as an actor’. If you don’t believe in yourself, how do you expect someone else to believe in you?”

Nora Fatehi, who was recently seen in Madgaon Express, feels that she is finally being acknowledged as an actor. “It has taken time to reach here, but that’s fine. The reason why it’s taken this much time is because it wasn’t my time. This is my time. The journey has been long, but at least I am here. Now, people are more open-minded towards me and my existence in the industry. Filmmakers will also think about me for more roles with substance,” she says.

The actress, who has been a part of reality shows, shot to fame with the 2018 dance track Dilbar – a redux of the 1999 hit. Her dancing skills saw her getting slotted as a dancer. Talking about getting stereotyped, she shares, “When someone becomes popular for something, they are typecast. It’s our responsibility to put our energy and best foot forward to try and break those stereotypes. Even when it comes to auditions, I don’t hesitate to do them even today. I auditioned for Be Happy. Even though I am a known name, I have auditioned for all the films that I’m doing, and I will probably need to continue doing it.”

Nora has seen her share of ups and downs, including controversies. She says, “I give a very nonchalant approach because most of the time I am. I came into this world, I came into this industry, thankfully, very thick-skinned. I didn't come from a very soft, luxurious background. I came from a very rough background before coming to India. I was already on my hustle, already on my grind. So, things were rough as it is. I built a thick skin already. However, with the things you're discussing – it is not even with trolling, trolls are fine. Comments, I get it. The air is free so people can talk for free. Anyone can say whatever they want, but it's the certain people (influential) who tweet certain things. It is certain headlines, and certain media publications that are supposed to be credible, that say certain things. Also, industry people who talk about me amongst themselves in camps spread certain rumors that are not true at all. They create certain perceptions about me. And that for me – despite me being thick-skinned and caring – I always ask, why? What is the reason? It may affect me for like a second. But then my brain goes, ‘Hello, you came here for a purpose. You have goals, forget about all that. You need to keep your eye on the prize’. So, that's the nonchalant energy that you see. It's because I'm so heavy focused and I'm always looking at the prize. So, I don't see what's happening around me. But I notice what is happening around me. I'm telling you 99% of the things they say are false, it's not true. That's where I'm always like, where are these things coming from? Sometimes I can be disappointed because they would attach my success to certain things that are not true. Then it almost makes me feel bad that you've taken away what I've given you guys, you've taken away my merit and just attached it to something which makes no sense. You have just ignored the talent, the skill and what I bring to the table and used something to say, ‘Oh, that's why she's here, that's why she's working’. That's a little disappointing. However, I'm so focused that I don't let these things shake me up.”

The culture of the paparazzi is growing more and more prevalent every day. Stars are always popping up on our Insta feeds, wherever they go — from airports to gyms, courtesy popular pap pages. However, when female stars’ “zoomed-in” body parts appear on pap pages, these so-called “spotted images” become the target of criticism from both celebs and fans. Currently, a number of stars are refusing to be photographed, especially from behind, worrying about being “zoomed-in pictures”. We spoke with paps to learn the reality.

No one wants to zoom in on the body parts. Nora continuously gives a back pose, then turns and waves. As for what Mrunal Thakur and Palak Tiwari said, the new trend of ‘Guess who?’ is on the rise. If they are at an event where cameras are placed, they will invariably end up shooting them from both the front and the back.

In a recent interview, actor Nora Fatehi seemed to have stirred controversy by denouncing feminism and its perceived societal impacts.

Speaking on YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia’s show The Ranveer Show, Fatehi remarked, “This idea that I don’t need anybody... Feminism. I don’t believe in this s***. In fact, I think, feminism f**** up our society completely. The idea of being inherently completely independent and not having to get married and have kids and not having the male and female dynamics at home where the man is the provider, a breadwinner, and the woman is the nurturer. I don’t believe in people who think that’s not true. I think women are nurturers; yes, they should go to work, have their own lives, and be independent, but to a certain extent.”

The 32-year-old also said that “a lot of men have been brainwashed by the feminism era” and added, “If you are bringing to the table money, food and shelter, I need to bring to the table kids, being a mother, taking care of the house, cooking, etc. If we are bringing the same thing to the table, then who’s going to bring the other stuff?”

Action is at the heart of Vidyut Jammwal’s films. But with Crakk—Jeetegaa Toh Jiyegaa, the actor-producer saw an opportunity to introduce the Indian audience to an extreme sports action movie. For an industry that is quite prolific, one wonders why Bollywood hasn’t attempted the genre before.

Jammwal reasons, “Not everyone can pull this off. Such a movie requires serious training. Across the globe, the genre of action gets so much love and respect. In India, it’s catching on.”

Aditya Datt’s directorial venture revolves around an underground extreme sports competition where the last man standing walks away with the prize money. Casting for a heavy-duty action fare is not easy. But the actor says he got lucky with Arjun Rampal, Nora Fatehi and Amy Jackson.

“When you do a film like this, everyone around also has to be in sync with you physically to make the stunt interesting. Arjun had to train extensively. In a sequence, Arjun and I have done rappelling, and it took us months to get it right. Similarly, Nora had to train in rollerblading. I did rollerblading in London with experts. We all trained for months.”

If intense prep is one side of the coin, the other side is safety measures. As an actor-producer, Jammwal asserts that safety was his top priority. “[When performing stunts], you get professionals; they know how to be safe. Before every stunt, I am scared out of my mind. You have to analyse the risks, and calculate everything that can go wrong. Fear is a great friend to have on an action film. You will die if you aren’t scared. Fear is a partner that you keep beside you, and then surpass it.”

Crakk marks the actor’s second production after IB 71 (2023). He says the key to being a good producer is to think like the audience. “I want to tell stories that [captivate] my mind. In Crakk, Arjun and I have a cycling competition. When we wrote the scene, it felt regular. But on the set, [it turned out way better]. So, at every step, the idea was to up the ante and constantly ask ourselves, ‘What would the audience like?’”

Nora Fatehi, who has created a special place for herself in the film industry, recalled the struggles she faced with her accent and body language during her initial years in showbiz.

While talking to BBC Asian, she said, “Whatever opportunities I have had have been very last-minute, and thankfully I was prepared. I remember staying locked up in my room and watching stuff on TV while working on my Hindi. I wouldn’t party or make boyfriends like the other girls. I realised in my second month in India that I needed to tone down the Canadian accent, tone down my body language, and work on my Hindi. I missed out on my brother’s wedding, his birthday, everything. So many people were like, ‘Do you want to be like the next Katrina Kaif’?” 

She further added, “I came at a time when Katrina Kaif was taking over, and we don’t look that different. So, I wasn’t insecure about looking like an outsider. I’m not Caucasian; I’m not a white girl. At the end of the day, I’m a North African Moroccan woman, and a lot of Moroccan girls look Indian, and a lot of Indian girls look Moroccan. We share a lot of genetics.”

The 31-year-old, known for Dilbar (Satyamev Jayate; 2018), O Saki Saki (Batla House; 2019), Garmi (Street Dancer; 2020), Manike (Thank God; 2022), however, added that she worked on her Hindi and wanted to be prepared for whatever opportunity came her way: “Most of the projects I got were very last-minute. I knew I could only get one opportunity, and if that did not work, I’d be out of the game.”

The ’90s heartbreak song, 'Achha Sila Diya', has got an update in 2023, with Rajkummar Rao and Nora Fatehi featuring in the music video. Fatehi, who earlier shared screen space with Rao in Stree’s (2018) song 'Kamariya', enjoyed reuniting with the actor for the single.

“I love music videos [that offer] both acting and dancing [opportunities]. Actors should be able to do both. It would have surprised me if Raj didn’t know how to dance. There is a charismatic side to him when he dances,” she says of her co-star.

In her eight-year run so far, Fatehi has established herself as one of the most popular dancers in showbiz. But it hasn’t been easy. She says she had to face several judgments attached to dance performers.

“I had to face [preconceived] notions [about dancers], but it’s all a part of the journey. I always see myself as a performer, not only a dancer. I just have to prove myself.” She adds that dance is such an integral part of being a performer that actors too are criticized if they have two left feet.

For Fatehi, dance numbers are the first step to becoming a multi-faceted artiste. While she has tried her hand at acting with supporting roles in 'Batla House' (2019) and 'Bhuj: The Pride of India' (2021), she also went behind the mic for 'Dirty Little Secret'. Her next stop: producing her own music. “Proving myself requires innovating. So if I am featuring in music videos for a few years, after that, I should start singing and producing my own songs. I should work towards bagging acting parts. I still give auditions, and I don’t mind that as long as I reach my goal.”

Adding a new twist to the Sukesh Chandrashekhar case that Bollywood actresses Nora Fatehi and Jaqueline Fernandes have gotten tangled up in, the alleged conman has claimed in a statement on Saturday that he and Jacqueline Fernandez were in a “serious relationship”. Chandrashekhar further alleged that Nora Fatehi was jealous of Jacqueline.

In a press statement issued through his lawyers, Chandrashekhar stated, “Nora was jealous of Jacqueline and was brainwashing me against her, as she wanted me to leave Jacqueline and date her. Nora used to try calling me at least 10 times a day...As I and Jacqueline were in a serious relationship, I started avoiding Nora, but she kept irritating me...She also kept sending me multiple pictures of Hermes bags and jewellery that she wanted, which I obliged by giving her, which she was using till date.”

The letter further reads, “Nora claims that she did not want a car, but that is a very big lie, as she was after my life that her car had to be changed. Then it was me and her who selected the (new) BMW 5 series, which she kept using for a long time.”

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In a recent development, where the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police has filed a supplementary charge sheet in connection with the Rs. 200 crore extortion case, alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar on Saturday claimed that actor Nora Fatehi has always been jealous of actor Jacqueline Fernandez.

Chandrasekhar stated in a press statement issued through his lawyers, Anant Malik and AK Singh, that Fatehi always brainwashed him against Fernandez as she wanted him to leave Fernandez and start dating her. “Nora used to try calling me at least 10 times a day, and if I didn’t answer the call, she used to keep calling me,” he claimed. 

“As Jacqueline and I were in a serious relationship, I started avoiding Nora, but she kept irritating me by calling and also, asking me to help Bobby (her relative) set up a music production company, which I did. She also kept sending me multiple pictures of Hermès bags and jewellery that she wanted, which I obliged. Ask her to produce one bill of Hermès bags that she still has; she will never be able to produce the bills because she does not have them.The bags are worth more than Rs. 2 crores,” claimed Chandrasekhar.

He also stated that “Nora gives a different statement before the ED u/s 50 PMLA, which is admissible in court, but later the entire statement is changed and new stories are told before the EOW and a magistrate”. He also added that his association with “actors Nikki Tamboli and Chahatt Khanna were only professional”.