Nora Fatehi reveals she wasn’t paid for iconic songs ‘Dilbar’ and ‘Kamariya’

Recently at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Nora Fatehi opened up about her early struggles in the Indian entertainment industry, sharing that she was not paid for her breakthrough songs, 'Dilbar' from 'Satyameva Jayate' and 'Kamariya' from 'Stree.'
Nora also talked about her creative input for 'Dilbar', aiming to set a different tone from typical item songs by making the choreography as the highlight to the performance. She expressed a desire to make the song family-friendly, with intricate dance steps and choreography that could inspire audiences rather than relying solely on traditional item song tropes.
While speaking with Rajeev Masand, Fatehi detailed how, despite needing income to cover essential living expenses, she accepted these roles without pay.
Even though Nora was in need of financial support, she viewed these roles as pivotal career opportunities, choosing visibility and the chance to prove herself over money.
“I told myself it wasn’t the time for money but to prove myself,” she shared, adding that she saw her collaborations with Bhushan Kumar and Dinesh Vijan as steps to establish her credibility. As we all know, both songs were superhits.
“We could change the game,” Fatehi recalled saying to the filmmakers, suggesting that viewers would be captivated by the choreography.
In another revelation, Fatehi described a wardrobe conflict on the set of Dilbar. She pushed back when given a blouse she felt was “too tiny,” advocating for an outfit that balanced sensuality with comfort. The blouse had to be redesigned last minute to ensure she felt at ease. “To some, it still looked over-s**y, but at least I was comfortable,” she clarified.
‘Dilbar’ song was from the John Abraham starrer ‘Satyameva Jayate’.