Nora Fatehi recalls refusing “tiny” blouse for ‘Dilbar’: “Don't over-sexualise me. I get it, it is a sexy song, but...”

When it comes to Bollywood dance numbers, few performances are as iconic as Nora Fatehi's in the hit song ‘Dilbar’ from Satyameva Jayate. Known for her captivating moves and stunning visuals, Fatehi has become a fan favourite. However, behind the scenes, she faced pressure regarding her wardrobe choices for this sensational track.The Wardrobe DilemmaIn a recent interview at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Nora revealed that the team initially wanted her to wear a "tiny" blouse for the song. She explained the importance of not over-sexualizing her image. “I remember they had to make a new blouse because the blouse they brought was too tiny, and I had to put my foot down. I said, ‘Guys, I cannot wear this. Don't over-sexualise me. I get it, it is a sexy song. We are all inherently sexy, but we don't need to get vulgar about it,’” she shared.Nora's request for a new blouse wasn't just a personal preference; it was about preserving the artistic integrity of the performance. She explained, “It was also Ramadan, so I said, ‘Guys, chill. Can we please not do this?'” Her insistence on a more modest outfit resulted in the reconstruction of the blouse to fit her comfort level. “I don't mind showing the stomach because it is about the aesthetics, but I cannot be showing too much cleavage,” she added.Focus on Dance and ExpressionFor Nora, the focus during the performance needed to be on her face and her dance moves rather than on her attire. “It’s also so tough because when you work with filmmakers as a nobody, and I was a nobody at that time, they are like, ‘Who the hell do you think you are?’ I have to explain to them with love and make them understand, ‘Let's not divert. The music is so good. The choreography is so good. Don't ruin that because of a stupid blouse,’” she stated.Her conversation with Milap Zaveri, the film's director, was pivotal. “When I spoke to him like that, he was like, ‘Okay, I get it.’ I said, ‘Let them focus on my face, and dance moves. Let them not focus on the breasts,’” she recalled.Nora also touched upon the challenges she faces regarding body representation in Bollywood. With a different body type than many of her contemporaries, she often has to advocate for herself in styling choices. “Today, when I do have the power to talk, I do tell my stylists, ‘This is too much.’ The way they dress Ananya (Panday), Sara (Ali Khan), or Janhvi (Kapoor), they cannot dress me the same way,” she noted.She expressed the difficulty of finding outfits that suit her unique figure, stating, “It’s tough for stylists and directors to understand where I am coming from, but once I push and they get it, they are like, ‘Okay, cool.’”Speaking of the professional front, she was last seen in Madgaon Express. Also Read: Nora Fatehi opens up about her toughest rejection from Yash Raj Films audition: “I just broke my cellphone, shattering it into pieces in anger”