-by Atul Goyal
Nora Fatehi: The “Dilbar” of millions of hearts
Into the glitzy world of Mumbai, where dreams become reality overnight, a girl from Canada arrived—Nora Fatehi. She was born in Toronto, with Moroccan roots, but Indian at heart. Nora had a passion for dance since childhood; she practised belly dance and Bollywood moves at home, hoping one day to shine on the big screen. But her journey wasn’t easy.
In 2014, Nora entered Bollywood with the film “Roar: Tigers of the Sundarbans.” It was a small role, but it was the beginning for Nora. During the filming of the film, she discovered some stunning dance moves from the walls of an old temple in the jungle, which she used in the song “Dilbar,” which became the heartbeat of millions. Dilbar is considered Nora Fatehi’s icon or signature song.
Nora received a wild card entry into the “Bigg Boss” (2015) house. Her fellow housemates trapped her in a conspiracy. Their goal was to find a hidden treasure, and sexy Nora decoded the clues with her dance moves, captivating the audience. From there, she showcased her dancing skills in the ninth season of “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa” (2016).
Nora and Various Songs
Then came the song “Manohari” from “Baahubali: The Beginning.” Nora became a favourite for special songs in Telugu cinema. On set, she danced with Prabhas, but in the fantasy, she became a princess who captivates a warrior with her dance. This song brought her recognition, but the real breakthrough came in 2018 with “Dilbar” from “Satyameva Jayate.”
Nora’s belly dance performance was so captivating that the song garnered 20 million views overnight. The song then surpassed 1 billion views, boosting Nora’s sexy image.
Dilbar’s Persian Origin
Dilbar is a Persian word meaning beloved, darling, lover, sweetheart, or charming person, i.e. one who steals or captivates the heart, such as a beloved or sweetheart. The word is often used in the context of love and attraction, and means one who captivates the heart or is loved.
It’s said that during the filming of “Dilbar,” a Bollywood producer was so impressed by her dancing that he offered her international projects. Another romantic story began. In the glittering nights of Mumbai, where Bollywood stars make their fortunes, there was a club called “Dilbar Lounge.” This place catered to those who wanted to lose themselves in the rhythms of the night. The club was owned by Nora, a Moroccan-Canadian beauty, an actress by day and a dancing queen by night. Nora’s heart was in dance, and her favourite song was “Dilbar”—the same song she had just shot for the film “Satyamev Jayate,” where her belly dance moves captivated the entire world.
The story begins one evening when a mysterious guest arrived at the club—Vikrant (name changed), a wealthy businessman tired of the hustle and bustle of the city. Vikrant was sitting in the club, sipping his drink, when Nora appeared on stage. The lights dimmed, and the tune of “Dilbar Dilbar” began playing in the background. Nora wore a shimmery red dress that highlighted her curves. Her eyes sparkled, and as she began to dance, the entire club came to a standstill.
Nora’s moves were just like the song’s—sensual, bold, and mesmerising. She spun, bent, and swayed her waist like a magician stealing hearts. Vikrant’s eyes were fixed on Nora. The song’s lyrics, “Dilbar Dilbar, yes Dilbar Dilbar,” echoed in his ears, and he felt as if Nora was dancing just for him. But this wasn’t an ordinary dance; there was a twist in Nora’s story. In real life, during the shooting of “Dilbar,” Nora had practised for months, learned belly dancing, and now she was living that energy in the club. But in Kalpana, her dance was a secret power – one that could reveal the secrets hidden in people’s hearts.
As the song progressed, Vikrant was drawn towards the stage. Nora noticed him and smiled. When the dance was over, she met Vikrant. “Did you like my dance?” Nora asked. Vikrant said, “It wasn’t dance, it was magic. It was like you stole my heart.” They started talking. Vikrant told her that he was a lonely man, with no colour in his life. Nora laughed and said, “Like the song Dilbar, sometimes one dance changes everything.”
As the night progressed, the two arrived backstage at the club. There, Nora revealed her secret to Vikrant: that “Dilbar” wasn’t just a hit for her, but the story of her life. In reality, the song made her a star, garnering 20 million views on the first day, and international fame. But in the story, Nora said she healed people’s pain through dance. Vikrant revealed his secret: he was heartbroken by a past love. Nora reworked “Dilbar” and taught him how to dance. They danced together, and that night, a new love story began at the club.
In the morning, Vikrant told Nora, “You are truly Dilbar—the heart-stealer.” Nora smiled and replied, “And you’re the hero of my song.” Thus, “Dilbar” became not just a song, but a bridge connecting two hearts. Then, she began receiving a series of films, such as “Street Dancer 3D” (2020), where she plays Mia, a street dancer who uses magical moves to win an international dance competition.
In “Bhuj: The Pride of India” (2021), she plays spy Heena, seducing enemies with her sensual dance moves. And Alia’s role in “Crack” (2024), where she plays an action heroine who mixes dance and fighting.
On the international stage, Nora’s story became more exciting. In 2019, she performed “Pepeta” with Tanzanian musician Revaini. Then, she performed in “Light the Sky” at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, creating a magical light show in the stadium where her dance unites the entire world.
“Snake” was released in 2025 with Jason Derulo, where she plays a mysterious woman who mesmerises people like a snake charmer. Her singles like “Dirty Little Secret” (2021) and “Sexy in My Dress” (2023) showcase her bold side, with the story providing a glimpse into her secret love affair.
In the end, Nora becomes the Queen of Bollywood. She conquers the world with her dance, but her hard work and talent in real life also make her a star.
Nora’s Family
Nora’s family is very conservative and simple. Her parents and previous generations’ approach was: grow up, get married, have kids—that was it. When Nora decided to pursue a career in Bollywood, the entire family thought she was crazy. There was no support, as moving to another corner of the world alone, without friends or relatives, seemed dangerous. Nora says, “Her mother comes from a super conservative family where becoming a performer was never a topic of discussion. But now, seeing her success, the family is proud, though they don’t show it. When Nora travels to Dubai, Morocco, or Canada with Vikrant, the family marvels at her stardom and wonders, ‘How is this possible?’ Nora has now become a role model for her cousins, who have also begun to believe in themselves.
Nora has been obsessed with dance since childhood. At the age of three, she wanted to attend a neighbour’s wedding, but her parents wouldn’t let her because she would dance wherever there was music on the dance floor, even though their parents didn’t like her neighbour. Her parents immigrated to Canada from Morocco, where they married and settled. Nora grew up in Toronto’s “hood” (low-income area), home to Somali, Kenyan, Indian, and Caribbean immigrant families. Nora watched Bollywood films from childhood, but she doesn’t understand Hindi. Nora’s family was low-income. Her father was a professional butler who worked constantly, and her mother was initially a housewife, but then started working. It was difficult to run the household, with no steady income. Nora started working at the age of 16. This family background made Nora resilient and hardworking. When she came to India, with just ₹5,000, she faced many challenges, but her sense of respect for her family kept her going.
Nora Fatehi in Bollywood
Despite her long career in Bollywood, Nora Fatehi maintains a largely clean public image, free of any major scandals.
However, some unverified allegations of financial misappropriation have surfaced. Nora has courageously highlighted some challenges within the industry, calling some people “predators” during an appearance on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, where she discussed topics such as the casting couch and the dark aspects of talent agencies.
In the Sukesh Chandrashekhar money laundering case (2021-2023), she was named in an alleged ₹200 crore extortion and money laundering investigation, where it was alleged that she received a luxury car from the accused. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned her for questioning several times; however, she is treated as a witness rather than a suspect. Nora has also filed a defamation case against Jacqueline Fernandez, alleging that she has been unfairly made a “scapegoat” in the matter. Sukesh claimed that Nora borrowed money from him for a property in Morocco, but she has categorically denied this. The case is still ongoing, and no formal charges have been filed yet.
In addition, the Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has named Nora in a ₹252 crore drug trafficking case. Allegations have surfaced suggesting that she was involved in drug-related activities with other individuals; however, these claims have raised concerns that they may be used to extort money from wealthy individuals, which Nora has categorically denied.
In terms of public appearances, Nora has occasionally faced wardrobe challenges during her performances, which is not new in the entertainment industry. For example, during a 2019 promotional event for “Pachtaoge,” she narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction while dancing in a short dress, thanks to Vicky Kaushal’s timely assistance. She also faced a wardrobe problem while shooting the song “Manohari” from Baahubali in 2015. Furthermore, there have been some light moments in her career when she found herself in a difficult situation due to her clothing choices, which were showcased in several interviews and parties.
