Elnaaz Norouzi
{{Short description|Iranian-German actress}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Elnaaz Norouzi
| image = Elnaaz Norouzi walks the ramp at the Bombay Times Fashion Week 2023 (cropped).jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|7|9}}
| birth_place = Tehran, Iran
| occupation = Actress
}}
Elnaaz Norouzi ({{langx|fa|الناز نوروزی}}; born 9 July 1996){{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sacred-games-actor-elnaaz-norouzi-my-character-has-similarities-with-katrina-but-not-inspired-by-her/story-VUFboUDeeTLAxnMkTPQEiP.html|title=Sacred Games actor Elnaaz Norouzi: My character has similarities with Katrina, but not inspired by her|date=18 July 2018 }}{{Cite web |last=Bisht |first=Bhana |title=Not Allowed Entry In Iran, But It Doesn't Stop Me From Fighting: Elnaaz Norouzi |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/interviews/elnaaz-norouzi-iran/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=www.shethepeople.tv |language=en}} is an Iranian-German actress who mainly works in Bollywood.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-15 |title=Elnaaz Norouzi: 'Not being from a Bollywood family and India makes things harder for me' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/elnaaz-norouzi-hello-charlie-bollywood-sacred-games-tag-films-7273397/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} She is known for playing the role of Zoya Mirza in Indian crime thriller Sacred Games.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-06 |title=After Making A Mark With Sacred Games, Elnaaz Norouzi Stars In Kandahar Alongside Gerard Butler |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/binge/after-making-a-mark-with-sacred-games-elnaaz-norouzi-stars-in-kandahar-alongside-gerard-butler-598547.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=IndiaTimes |language=en-IN}} She made her Hollywood debut with Gerard Butler in Kandahar, a movie by Ric Roman Waugh.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-06 |title=Elnaaz Norouzi shares how it was to work with Gerard Butler in 'Kandahar' |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/hollywood/news/elnaaz-norouzi-shares-how-it-was-to-work-with-gerard-butler-in-kandahar/articleshow/99290525.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-11-01 |issn=0971-8257}}
Early life and education
Elnaaz Norouzi was born in Tehran, Iran. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Hanover, Germany.{{cite web |script-title=fa:بیوگرافی الناز نوروزی بازیگر و مدل ایرانی بالیوود |url=http://niksho.com/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D9%88%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%B1-%D9%88-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%84-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1.html |access-date=20 August 2019 |website=niksho.com |language=Persian}} Norouzi has German citizenship.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOCpCalkjBo |title=Elnaaz Norouzi reveals her first job, first crush, first movie - Sacred Games 2 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Youtube|date=27 July 2019 }} She started working as an actress when she was fourteen. She went to school, while weekend photoshoots became a daily occurrence for her. She travelled around Asia and Europe until she was 19. After graduating from the Goetheschule in Hanover, she decided to move to India.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bild.de/regional/hannover/hannover-aktuell/elnaaz-norouzi-vom-fluechtlings-maedchen-zum-bollywood-star-59808780.bild.html |title=(Vom Flüchtlings-Mädchen zum Bollywood-Star - Elnaaz (26) kam als Kind aus dem Iran nach Hannover (From refugee girl to Bollywood star - Elnaaz (age 26) came to Hanover from Iran as a child) |date=2019-01-21 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.bild.de |last=Perrevoort |first=Cori|language=German}}
Career
She started her career as a model at the age of 14 in Germany.{{Cite web |title=Elnaaz Norouzi bags a role in Apple TV series Tehran, to star alongside Glenn Close |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/binge-watch/story/elnaaz-norouzi-bags-a-role-in-apple-tv-series-tehran-to-star-alongside-glenn-close-1861670-2021-10-06 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=India Today |date=6 October 2021 |language=en}} In 2017, she made her debut in a Pakistani film Maan Jao Na, playing the role of a young girl Raania.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-01 |title=This Iranian actress is set to make her Pakistani film debut |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1342501/i |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} She entered the Indian film industry by playing the role of Zoya in Netflix Bollywood web series Sacred Games.{{Cite web |last=Mahamood |first=Neha |title=Sacred Games' Elnaaz Norouzi opens up on her Bollywood journey |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/city-times/sacred-games-elnaaz-norouzi-opens-up-on-her-bollywood-journey |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Khaleej Times |language=en}} Later, Norouzi worked in many movies and series, including Hello Charlie, Chutzpah, Tehran 2, Abhay, Khido Khundi and Made in Heaven.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-06 |title=Elnaaz Norouzi shares how it was to work with Gerard Butler in 'Kandahar' |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/hollywood/news/elnaaz-norouzi-shares-how-it-was-to-work-with-gerard-butler-in-kandahar/articleshow/99290525.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-11-01 |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite news |date=2022-05-25 |title=Elnaaz Norouzi to perform dance number in 'JugJugg Jeeyo' |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/elnaaz-norouzi-to-perform-dance-number-in-jugjugg-jeeyo/articleshow/91789455.cms |access-date=2023-11-01 |issn=0971-8257}} She performed a dance number in Rashtra Kavach Om and JugJugg Jeeyo, produced by Karan Johar.{{Cite news |date=2022-05-25 |title=Elnaaz Norouzi to perform dance number in 'JugJugg Jeeyo' |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/elnaaz-norouzi-to-perform-dance-number-in-jugjugg-jeeyo/articleshow/91789455.cms |access-date=2023-11-01 |issn=0971-8257}} In July 2022, she made her singing debut with 'La La Love'.{{Cite web |title=Elnaaz Norouzi announces new single 'La La Love'; to release on July 27 |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/elnaaz-norouzi-announces-new-single-la-la-love-to-release-on-july-27 |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}} She marks special appearance in the Marathi song "Hridayi Vasant Phultana", an item number from the Malind Kavde's directorial 2022 film Takatak 2.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-16 |title='Takatak 2' new song: Elnaaz channels her inner 'Marathi mulgi' in the evergreen chartbuster 'Hridayi Vasant Phultana'- Watch |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/takatak-2-new-song-elnaaz-channels-her-inner-marathi-mulgi-in-the-evergreen-chartbuster-hridayi-vasant-phultana-watch/articleshow/93577652.cms |access-date=2024-03-15 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Personal life
Elnaaz Norouzi was born in Iran.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-26 |title=Nawazuddin Siddiqui to star opposite 'Maan Jao Naa' actor Elnaaz Norouzi |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2269954/nawazuddin-siddiqui-to-star-opposite-maan-jao-naa-actor-elnaaz-norouzi |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} Her family shifted to Germany, where she grew up and spent her teenage years.{{Cite web |last=Sarym |first=Ahmed |date=2018-04-09 |title=Maan Jao Na's Elnaaz Norouzi opens up about Bollywood breakthrough |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1179816 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Images |language=en}} In 2015, she found a new home in India.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-15 |title=Independence Day special {{!}} Elnaaz Norouzi: I am from Iran phir bhi dil hai Hindustani |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/independence-day-special-elnaaz-norouzi-i-am-from-iran-phir-bhi-dil-hai-hindustani-101692073423292.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} Norouzi can speak English, German, French, Persian, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, which has helped her to act in various film industries.{{Cite web |last=Randall |first=Melissa |title=Elnaaz Norouzi |url=https://www.nyfa.edu/alumni/elnaaz-norouzi/ |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=NYFA |language=en-US}}
In 2018, she accused director Vipul Shah for sexual harassment.{{cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/every-time-i-went-to-vipul-amrutlal-shahs-office-he-tried-to-kiss-me-19903156|title='Vipul Shah tried to kiss me, he touched my butt'|date=19 October 2018 |publisher=Mid-day}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/photogallery/india/metoo-movement-celebs-accused-of-sexual-harassment-1903001.html|title=MeToo Movement: Celebs Accused of Sexual Harassment|publisher=News18}}
During the Mahsa Amini protests in 2022, Norouzi came in support of the protests against the forced head covering.{{cite web|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/elnaaz-norouzi-what-happened-to-mahsa-amini-in-iran-couldve-happened-to-me/articleshow/94457284.cms|title= Elnaaz Norouzi: What happened to Mahsa Amini in Iran could’ve happened to me}} To support the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which denounced the Government of Iran and the morality police, Norouzi posted a video of herself stripping down to being topless.{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZcjbe0Et0I|title= Fans call Elnaaz Norouzi 'brave' as she strips to protest against 'morality police' in Iran}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Language |
| rowspan="2" |2018
|Raania |Urdu |
| Khido Khundi
|Naaz Grewal |Punjabi |
| 2021
|Mona Malhotra | rowspan="2" |Hindi |
| rowspan="3" |2022
|Russian Party Girl |
| Rashtra Kavach Om
|Dancer |Hindi |
| Takatak 2
|Guest appearance in the song "Hridayi Vasant Phultana"{{Cite news |date=2022-08-16 |title='Takatak 2' new song: Elnaaz channels her inner 'Marathi mulgi' in the evergreen chartbuster 'Hridayi Vasant Phultana'- Watch |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/takatak-2-new-song-elnaaz-channels-her-inner-marathi-mulgi-in-the-evergreen-chartbuster-hridayi-vasant-phultana-watch/articleshow/93577652.cms |access-date=2024-03-12 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} |Marathi |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|Shina Asadi |English |
| Devil: The British Secret Agent
|Rosy |Telugu |
= Television =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Language |
| 2018–2019
|Zoya Mirza |Hindi |
| 2019
|Natasha |Hindi |
| 2021
|Sara Khan |Hindi |
| 2022
|Yasaman Haddadi |Persian |
| 2023
|Leila Shirazi |rowspan="2"|Hindi |
| 2024
|Fahima Naqvi |
= Music videos =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Singer !Notes |
| 2018
|Made in India |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norouzi, Elnaaz}}
Category:Iranian film actresses