Long before Nora Fatehi became a familiar face in Indian entertainment, she was a young artist trying to understand herself and her place in the industry. Looking back, she admits that the reality show Bigg Boss 9, which many people remember as her early breakthrough, almost didn’t happen—because she initially walked away from it.
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During a recent conversation, Nora shared that the makers of Bigg Boss wanted her to join the show as a main contestant right from the first day. But she felt she wasn’t ready to be seen 24/7 by the whole country. She feared being misunderstood and worried that her personality might not be fully accepted at that stage. She was still figuring out who she was, and the idea of saying or doing something on camera that she could never take back made her feel uneasy. So she turned down the offer, choosing to avoid what she described as “getting into trouble”.
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A few weeks later, the show approached her again—this time for a wild card entry. Nora agreed, thinking she could manage a short stay on the show and use the opportunity to simply be noticed. She wanted people to know she existed, and she viewed the appearance as a small but meaningful step forward. In her words, it ended up being “one hell of a stepping stone,” opening doors she hadn’t imagined.
Nora also revealed that she had her eye on another show before Bigg Boss—Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. She loved the format because it reminded her of Dancing With The Stars, even though she wasn’t a trained dancer. She hoped that Bigg Boss would give her enough visibility to land a spot on Jhalak, and that’s exactly what happened. Right after she came out of the Bigg Boss house, she received the offer and went on to be part of the dance reality show she had dreamed about.
Nora joined Bigg Boss 9 on Day 58 and stayed until Day 83, while Prince Narula finished the season as the winner. Looking back now, what began as a hesitant step became the foundation for many of the opportunities that shaped her career.
