Recently at the Melbourne Indian Film Festival, Nora Fatehi Opening up about her early struggles in the Indian entertainment industry and not getting paid to share her breakthrough song,”dirbal‘ from ‘Satyameva Jayate‘ and ‘CamariaExcerpted from “The Street”.
Nora also spoke about her creative input into “Dilbar,” aiming to set a different tone than typical project songs by making the choreography the highlight of the show. She said she wanted to make the song family-friendly, motivating audiences through intricate dance moves and choreography, rather than relying solely on traditional project song tropes.
Speaking to Rajiv Masand, Fatehi detailed how she took on these roles without pay despite needing an income to cover basic living expenses.
Although Nora needed financial support, she viewed these roles as critical career opportunities, choosing visibility and the chance to prove herself over money.
“I told myself that now is not the time to ask for money, but the time to prove myself,” she shared, adding that she saw the Bhushan Kumar and Dinesh Vijan as steps to build credibility. As we all know, both songs are super hits.
“We can change the game,” Fathi recalled telling the filmmakers, suggesting that audiences would be captivated by the choreography.
In another revelation, Fathi described a dressing conflict on the sets of “Dilba”. When she received a shirt she thought was “too small,” she objected and advocated for an outfit that was both sexy and comfortable. The shirt had to be redesigned at the last minute to ensure she felt at ease. “It still looks too sexy for some people, but at least I’m comfortable,” she clarified.
The song “Dilbar” is from “Satyameva Jayate” starring John Abraham.
Nora Fatehi sets the internet on fire in green saree
