# Nora Fatehi
**Nora Fatehi** (born 1992) is a Canadian dancer, model, actress, singer, and producer who works mainly in the Indian film industry. Born in Canada into a family of Moroccan heritage, she entered [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) through a modeling assignment and is known for the songs "Dilbar," "O Saki Saki," "Kamariya," and "Kusu."[1](https://www.news18.com/movies/nora-fatehi-to-adapt-her-journey-for-screen-says-my-life-is-documentary-worthy-exclusive-8850333.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992, in Canada, into a Moroccan family[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/nora-fatehi) |
| Film debut | *Roar: Tigers of the Sundarbans* (2014)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6598222/) |
| Breakthrough song | "Dilbar" (*Satyameva Jayate*, 2018): more than 20 million YouTube views in the first 24 hours[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) |
| Streaming milestone | First African-Arab female artist to reach one billion views on a single YouTube music video (March 6, 2021)[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/nora-fatehi) |
| Reach | More than 1.2 billion music streams, over 5 billion YouTube views on featured videos, 46 million Instagram and 21 million Facebook followers (February 2024)[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) |
| Award | Farrokh Jaffar won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 66th Filmfare Awards for *Gulabo Sitabo*; Nora Fatehi was not the winner[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/im-alive-for-work-nora-fatehi-on-juggling-diverse-roles-as-actor-dancer-producer/articleshow/109083141.cms) • [10](https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/winners-of-the-66th-vimal-elachi-filmfare-awards-2021_-47314.html) |
| Record deals | T-Series exclusive artist (February 2019); Warner Music Group (February 26, 2024)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6598222/) • [4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) |
## Early life and background
Fatehi was born in 1992, into a Moroccan family in Canada, and later moved to India for her career.[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/nora-fatehi) IMDb describes her as a Canadian dancer, model, actress, and singer from a Moroccan-Canadian family who was born and raised in Canada.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6598222/) She speaks Darija, Arabic, English, and French.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx)
Her entry into the industry came through a search rather than a connection. A Google search led her to a talent agency in Toronto, which produced an offer for a three-month modeling gig in India.[6](https://www.allure.com/story/nora-fatehi-beauty-interview) She has described her path as "gully se glory" (from the alley to glory), saying she knew nobody in the film business when she started.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nora-fatehi-opens-up-about-journey-started-from-bottom-8874216/)
## Career beginnings
Fatehi made her film debut in the Hindi film *Roar: Tigers of the Sundarbans* (2014).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6598222/) Her early visibility came from item songs (glamorous standalone dance numbers in Indian films) in films including *Temper*, *Baahubali: The Beginning*, *Kick 2*, and *Stree*.[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/nora-fatehi) She has said she broke out after appearing on the reality show *Bigg Boss*.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nora-fatehi-opens-up-about-journey-started-from-bottom-8874216/)
## Breakthrough and dance career
The 2018 song "Dilbar," her performance of a classic Bollywood song in *Satyameva Jayate*, generated more than 20 million YouTube views in the first 24 hours of its release. [Warner Music Group](https://www.edgepedia.org/warner-music-group) describes it as the first song to achieve that on the platform, while IMDb frames the record as the first Hindi song to garner such numbers in India; the two sources differ in scope.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6598222/) She recorded an Arabic version of "Dilbar" with the Moroccan group [Fnaïre](https://www.edgepedia.org/fnaire), and on March 6, 2021 became the first African-Arab artist to hit one billion views on a single YouTube music video.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) • [2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/nora-fatehi)
Her other signature numbers include "O Saki Saki," "Kamariya," and "Kusu."[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/im-alive-for-work-nora-fatehi-on-juggling-diverse-roles-as-actor-dancer-producer/articleshow/109083141.cms) • [1](https://www.news18.com/movies/nora-fatehi-to-adapt-her-journey-for-screen-says-my-life-is-documentary-worthy-exclusive-8850333.html)
## Acting work across industries
Fatehi has appeared in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) Ten years after her first movie role she had appeared in more than two dozen films.[6](https://www.allure.com/story/nora-fatehi-beauty-interview) Her screen acting includes *Street Dancer 3D*, opposite [Varun Dhawan](https://www.edgepedia.org/varun-dhawan), and *Batla House*, for which she did not receive the Best Supporting Actress award at the 66th [Filmfare Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards).[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/im-alive-for-work-nora-fatehi-on-juggling-diverse-roles-as-actor-dancer-producer/articleshow/109083141.cms) • [10](https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/winners-of-the-66th-vimal-elachi-filmfare-awards-2021_-47314.html) She has said she does not consider herself a box-office actor and has often been cast in dance numbers to give projects visibility.[1](https://www.news18.com/movies/nora-fatehi-to-adapt-her-journey-for-screen-says-my-life-is-documentary-worthy-exclusive-8850333.html)
## Television and judging work
Fatehi's reality-television appearances include *Bigg Boss 9*, *Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa*, *Dance Plus 4*, and *India's Best Dancer*; on *Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa* and *India's Best Dancer* she served as a judge.[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/nora-fatehi) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/im-alive-for-work-nora-fatehi-on-juggling-diverse-roles-as-actor-dancer-producer/articleshow/109083141.cms)
## Music releases and international collaborations
In February 2019 she signed a contract with the record label T-Series as an exclusive artist.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6598222/) On February 26, 2024, Warner Music Group announced a record deal with her.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) Her collaborations include the Afropop track "Pepeta" with the Tanzanian singer Rayvanny, the Arabic "Dilbar" with Fnaïre, and solo tracks such as "Im Bossy."[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx)
Her stage work extends beyond film promotion. She performed "Light the Sky" at the [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup) 2022 Closing Ceremony, sold out a concert with Fnaïre at the Paris Olympic Games, and performed at Dubai's EXPO 2020 Global Arena.[8](https://principlemagazine.com/2025/02/21/nora-fatehi/)
## By the numbers
Her music has generated more than 1.2 billion streams and more than 5 billion YouTube views on her featured videos, and she had more than 46 million Instagram followers and 21 million on Facebook as of February 2024.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) "Dilbar" passed 20 million views in 24 hours in 2018 and one billion cumulative views by March 2021.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) • [2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/nora-fatehi) Her self-titled track "Nora" was streamed on YouTube more than 19 million times in the seven months after its release.[6](https://www.allure.com/story/nora-fatehi-beauty-interview) The single "Snake" had accumulated over 110 million views as of February 2025.[8](https://principlemagazine.com/2025/02/21/nora-fatehi/)
## What has changed since 2023
In February 2024 she signed with Warner Music Group.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) Her 2024 film slate paired two contrasting outcomes: *Crakk - Jeetegaa Toh Jiyegaa*, released February 23, 2024 and billed as the first-ever extreme sports action film in Hindi, underperformed at the box office, while Kunal Kemmu's directorial debut *Madgaon Express*, released March 22, 2024 with Fatehi headlining alongside Divyenndu, Pratik Gandhi, and [Avinash Tiwary](https://www.edgepedia.org/avinash-tiwary), opened to strong reviews.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx) • [1](https://www.news18.com/movies/nora-fatehi-to-adapt-her-journey-for-screen-says-my-life-is-documentary-worthy-exclusive-8850333.html)
Her announced and released slate through 2026 includes *Matka* (November 14, 2024), *[Be Happy](https://www.edgepedia.org/be-happy-film)* (March 14, 2025), *Ufff Yeh Siyapaa* (September 5, 2025), *[Thamma](https://www.edgepedia.org/thamma)* (October 21, 2025), *KD - The Devil* (2025), and *Jailer 2* (October 15, 2026).[9](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/nora-fatehi/) Her first order of business for 2025 was "Snake," a pop single with the American singer [Jason Derulo](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-derulo), directed by Abderrafia El Abdioui and filmed in Morocco; she also planned a debut EP and her first tour.[8](https://principlemagazine.com/2025/02/21/nora-fatehi/) • [6](https://www.allure.com/story/nora-fatehi-beauty-interview)
## Dance background and artistic identity
Fatehi describes herself as an untrained dancer. She started with traditional forms, learning belly dance "from watching my environment," and then moved into hip-hop, Afro, commercial, and Bollywood styles.[8](https://principlemagazine.com/2025/02/21/nora-fatehi/) She frames her identity as shaped by Moroccan roots, a Canadian upbringing, and a career based predominantly in India.[8](https://principlemagazine.com/2025/02/21/nora-fatehi/) Indian mainstream media present her as a Canadian performer working in the Indian film industry,[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/nora-fatehi) while Warner Music Group markets her as a global superstar whose multilingual fluency has built a diverse worldwide fanbase.[4](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx)
## Reception
She received the Best Supporting Actress award for *Batla House* at the 66th Filmfare Awards.[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/im-alive-for-work-nora-fatehi-on-juggling-diverse-roles-as-actor-dancer-producer/articleshow/109083141.cms) Her 2024 releases showed the split reception her film career has produced: *Madgaon Express* opened to rave reviews while *[Crakk](https://www.edgepedia.org/crakk)* tanked at the box office.[1](https://www.news18.com/movies/nora-fatehi-to-adapt-her-journey-for-screen-says-my-life-is-documentary-worthy-exclusive-8850333.html)
## References
1. [Nora Fatehi to Adapt Her Journey for Screen, News18](https://www.news18.com/movies/nora-fatehi-to-adapt-her-journey-for-screen-says-my-life-is-documentary-worthy-exclusive-8850333.html)
2. [Nora Fatehi Latest News, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/nora-fatehi)
3. [Nora Fatehi, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6598222/)
4. [Global Superstar Nora Fatehi Signs Record Deal with Warner Music Group, WMG investor relations (February 26, 2024)](https://investors.wmg.com/news-events/news-releases/news-details/2024/GLOBAL-SUPERSTAR-NORA-FATEHI-SIGNS-RECORD-DEAL-WITH-WARNER-MUSIC-GROUP-02-26-2024/default.aspx)
5. ['I'm alive for work': Nora Fatehi on juggling diverse roles as actor, dancer, producer, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/im-alive-for-work-nora-fatehi-on-juggling-diverse-roles-as-actor-dancer-producer/articleshow/109083141.cms)
6. [Nora Fatehi Has Been Ready for This Moment All Her Life, Allure](https://www.allure.com/story/nora-fatehi-beauty-interview)
7. [Nora Fatehi opens up about starting from 'the bottom' and making it big, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nora-fatehi-opens-up-about-journey-started-from-bottom-8874216/)
8. [Nora Fatehi Interview: 'The path to success is never easy', Principle Magazine (February 21, 2025)](https://principlemagazine.com/2025/02/21/nora-fatehi/)
9. [Nora Fatehi Filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/nora-fatehi/)
10. [Winners of the 66th Vimal Elaichi Filmfare Awards 2021, Filmfare.com](https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/winners-of-the-66th-vimal-elachi-filmfare-awards-2021_-47314.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 2010s onward › Surnames symbols to G*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license