With the success of her latest movie “Madgaon Express” setting the tone, popular actress Nora Fatehi recently opened up about her initial struggle in Mumbai’s daunting film industry. On a segment of The Bombay Journey by Mashable India, she laid bare the details of her tumultuous beginnings and the challenges she faced in a city that both births stars and breaks dreams.
Fatehi, who is known for her captivating dance numbers and captivating screen presence, recounted her arrival in India—an experience not unlike that of countless aspirants seeking fortune in the big city. She began her tale with the stark memory of having a meager ₹5,000 in her pocket, a sum that was dwarfed by the city’s towering cost of living.
The reality of Mumbai was a far cry from the glamour it promised on the big screen. Fatehi shared a flat with nine other girls, each one seemingly battling their own demons, earning them the moniker “psychopaths” in Fatehi’s retelling. The living conditions were far from ideal—a compact three-bedroom apartment made tinier by the number of occupants and their shared hardships. The daily battle for personal space and sanity took a toll on her, leaving her with vestiges of trauma that persist even years after. The hopeful starlets were micromanaged by an agency that took their cut before the women saw any money. Rent and other expenses were deduced first, and what was left barely sustained them. “Diet of one egg, Nutella, and bread and milk every day,” Fatehi described the scant sustenance that kept them going through their grueling days.
This exploitation, as Fatehi put it, is not rare in the industry’s underbelly, where agencies take advantage of the unregulated environment, cashing in on the naivety and desperation of newcomers. The harshness of this reality did not just leave Nora with unsettling memories but also underlined the urgent need for protective regulations to shield vulnerable aspiring artists from such predatory practices. Fatehi admits, the ordeal has left her with a need for therapy—echoing the sentiment of many who’ve been chewed up by a system that puts profit over people.
As Fatehi’s career progressed, she found herself pigeonholed by the same industry that had initially been so unwelcoming. In a candid conversation with Indian Express, she addressed the issue of being typecast. While the temptation might be to point fingers at casting directors or producers, she understands that creatives are often absorbed in the pursuit of their next hit, leaving little room for the discovery and nurturing of talent.
Nora doesn’t shy away from putting the onus on herself, either. She takes it as her personal mission to prove her calibre and versatility to an industry that likes to place artists in neatly defined boxes. She insisted that to break away from typecasting, she had to continuously challenge herself and evolve her talent, embracing the multidimensional nature of her abilities.
Despite these adversities, Fatehi’s passion and perseverance shone through. She relentlessly worked on herself, honing her craft and expanding her skill set. Her journey, fraught with difficulty and perseverance, sheds light on the harsh realities many actors face and the resilience required to make a mark in Bollywood. By sharing her story, she not only brings to light the struggles behind the scenes but also serves as an inspiration for others to overcome their struggles in a demanding, often unforgiving industry. Fatehi’s narrative is not just one of personal triumph but also a call to action, advocating for a shift in the deeper systemic issues that plague the entertainment business.
