Actor Elnaaz Norouzi talks about identity, Bollywood struggles, and international career

Actor Elnaaz Norouzi says she considers herself a global citizen and an Iranian-German-Indian, but admits she will never truly belong to India because she was not born in the country. Born in Iran and raised in Germany after her family fled rising geopolitical tension, Elnaaz moved to India to build an acting career.

Career and Industry Struggles

Navigating the Indian film industry proved difficult in a male-dominated ecosystem. Elnaaz faced stereotyping in Bollywood, being mostly cast in item songs or sex comedies, though she also landed a breakout role in the 2018 Netflix crime thriller Sacred Games directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. She views item songs like 'Dupatta' from Jugjugg Jeeyo and 'Kala Shah Kala' from Rashtra Kavach Om as a form of practice and is grateful for them, while also working hard on her language and accent to play Indian characters in projects like Ranneeti. She recently made her lead film debut in Hollywood in Guy Moshe's The Fix, which also stars Liam Neeson.

International Work and Iran

Beyond India, Elnaaz has built a strong international presence, starring in Moshe Zonder's Apple TV spy thriller Tehran, Ric Roman Waugh's Kandahar alongside Gerard Butler, and now The Fix. Many of her international projects are spy stories linked to Iran, reflecting real history and true stories from the region. While saddened by the 44 years of dictatorship in Iran, she is glad to use art to bring the voices of voiceless people to the world. She draws inspiration from resilient Iranian filmmakers like Jafar Panahi, who directed Taxi, and recalls how Bollywood's romance helped her escape the pain of fleeing her homeland.

Context

Elnaaz Norouzi's journey highlights the unique challenges faced by foreign-born artists who cross borders to build careers in major film industries like Bollywood and Hollywood. Her experience reflects how global migration driven by political conflict often shapes the personal lives and artistic choices of performers working in international cinema.