Elnaaz Norouzi reveals she was ‘very intimidated’ when she first met Gerard Butler on the Kandahar set: ‘I had a major crush on him’ – Times of India
Tell us something about ‘Kandahar’. How did you come on board for the film?
They were auditioning for this role, and I sent my audition like everybody else. I guess the producers and the directors really liked me, and that’s how I was signed on.
How was it working with Gerard Butler?
Working with Gerard Butler has been great. He is very welcoming. He is very sweet. He makes you feel very comfortable on and off set. It is a dream come true for sure. I have loved his films for years. I would watch all of his films and I had a major crush on him.
Tell us about your first meeting with him. Were you intimidated?
I was very intimidated when I first met him. I just didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if he was going to be nice and calm or not interact at all. However, he was very sweet and welcoming. He makes you forget that you don’t know him. It just felt like we had been friends for a long time. All my worries just disappeared. It was great.
The film also stars Ali Fazal. He is also one of the few Bollywood actors making waves in the West.
Yes, the movie also stars Ali Fazal, who is great. He has done a great job in Kandahar as well.
Was the shooting experience different from what you have experienced in India?
They work very differently. It’s more like a family over there, where everyone’s working together. Everyone’s getting their hair and makeup done in the same trailer. You know you eat together. It is definitely different from how we work here. Here, everyone’s more on their own. They have their own vanity where they get ready at their own pace and work on their own team. It was a great experience to learn and see their way of working.
You will also soon be seen in ‘Made in Heaven 2’. Can you tell us something about your character in the series?
I can’t really disclose much, but what I can tell you is that I am the bride in one of the episodes. It’s a very interesting character that I’ve played. I’ve never played a character like this before. She’s funny and irritating and smart at the same time, and I think that’s going to be a super nice and cool episode.
It is one of the most anticipated series. What can the fans expect in the second season?
Yes definitely! I am one of the fans who have been waiting for the series to come out. I was a big fan of it when I saw season one. I never thought I was going to get a chance to be in Season 2, which is very special, to be honest. It’s just like when I saw Tehran season one and wondered, ‘Why am I not in this series?’ and then I got to audition for it, and I was in season two of that show too. It was a dream come true, and it’s the same with Made in Heaven. I think the wait for the fans is going to be super worth it.
You left a mark with your performance in ‘Sacred Games’. What kind of reactions did you receive after the success of the series?
The reactions that you receive after a hit series like that are always good. I mean, I never thought I would be in a hit series. Obviously, when people come up to you and call you Zoya or Jamila, you know It has been ingrained in them so much that the series has had such an impact on them that they remember your character’s name, and when they see you, they connect you with that character, and I love that, and a lot of people have really come up to me and told me what a great actress I am, and you know, I am this tall, good-looking model who just wants to act, but then they realised, she actually can act. I think that was the most precious feedback that I got.
You will also be shooting a song for ‘DEVIL’ which is being touted as one of the most expensive songs being made. Can you reveal something about the same?
The song in DEVIL has turned out to be a very expensive song, which I didn’t expect and didn’t know, but I can’t really spill any beans on it as such. All I can say is that it is set in the 1950s and 1960s. It has an old-school kind of look and an old-school kind of song, but it’s super groovy. It’s super nice, and it looks fantastic!
Tell us about your initial days in the industry, and how do you look back at your journey so far?
My initial days in the industry were obviously extremely hard. I have come a long way. When I look back at it, I feel pretty amazing. I started from not knowing the language, not knowing a single soul in the city, not knowing any producers or directors. I have come so far ever since and now I am almost a part of the Bollywood family. I think I can totally pat myself on the back.
What more does 2023 have in store for you?
I have another series that is yet to be announced that is releasing in August. I am starting another film in May, and most probably I will be co-producing this year, too. We’re working on the script right now. I have more music to release. I will have a special appearance in a Bollywood movie that I cannot disclose yet, but that is also coming this year itself. I guess a lot is happening this year.
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