Nora Fatehi faced years of challenges before achieving success in the entertainment industry. In a recent conversation with Rajeev Masand at the IFFM in Melbourne, she revealed that during her early days, she encountered numerous dubious individuals who were always looking to take advantage of those in vulnerable positions. The Dilbar girl mentioned that people often asked her if she wanted to be the next Katrina Kaif and that impacted her mental health. She further decided to stop telling people that she wanted to act.
Nora shared that the initial period of her life took a toll on her mental health, prompting her to seek therapy. She mentioned that people frequently questioned whether she aspired to be the “next Katrina Kaif,” which felt like an unattainable dream.
She explained that the constant rejections made her feel inadequate, saying, “When you get a lot of rejection, which I got a lot, a lot of ‘you are not good enough,’ and ‘you want to be the next Katrina Kaif?’ I was like ‘this is terrible.'” Despite having developed a thick skin, she recalled that this phase was incredibly challenging for her.
After going through some of these experiences, Nora realized that she could never appear “desperate” for opportunities, as this is what certain individuals preyed upon.
The Crakk actress noted that this lesson taught her to avoid giving off desperate vibes because once she did, people would exploit that to their advantage. As a result, she stopped expressing her strong desire to act, opting instead to change her phrasing.
She began saying things like, “I would love to, but if it doesn’t work out, I can always return home, finish university, and become a lawyer.”
Fatehi further mentioned that some people claimed they could connect her with major production houses, and being new to the industry, she would often accompany them. Nora noted that this often put her in many “scary situations,” but over time, she learned how to handle these “weirdos.”
Nora recounted that when she first relocated to Mumbai as a Moroccan from Canada, she was unsure if she was communicating with the right people, many of whom promised to assist her.
At the age of 22, she admitted that she would have approached those situations differently if she had the wisdom she has now.
