Iranian‑German actor Elnaaz Norouzi has opened up about her homeland’s political past and the hopes for its future. With protests sweeping Iran demanding democratic reforms, Norouzi says people want freedom and a return to secularism. Her comments come amid global attention on the country’s unrest.
The protests that began last year aim to end the ruling theocratic regime and restore a secular state. Iran has been an Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution overthrew the Shah. Recently, the reported assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by US and Israeli forces sparked mixed reactions, with some celebrating and others protesting.
In an interview with Bombay Times, Elnaaz Norouzi clarified that her criticism is of the regime, not the Iranian people. She said the current system has created hardship and conflict.
The Sacred Games star said, “Iran is complex. What the Islamic Republic has done in Iran is not just create one Nicolás Maduro or Saddam Hussein. There is the supreme leader, (the late Khamenei), there are people and parties under him – Hezbollah, there is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), there is the Basij. They support and back the Houthis, Hamas. They are all intertwined.”
She added that calls for democracy are growing stronger across generations. Many young people know what they want for their future, while older generations reflect on life before the Islamic Republic. “The older generation, our grandparents say they made a mistake years ago by asking for regime change. We had it so good during the times of Shah. It was secular and diverse – they say.”
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Elnaaz Norouzi On Iran’s History and Diversity
Norouzi highlighted Iran’s rich cultural past. She reminded audiences that Iran was part of the Persian Empire long before it became an Islamic Republic. According to her, the country has always been diverse.
She said, “For the past 40 years, a large population of Iranians go to sleep and wake up hoping that one day they are going to be freed from this regime. Just like in India, Iran had people from different religions, cultures and communities living there. It was diverse. Iran was never an Islamic country, it was largely Zoroastrian.”
She also noted that before Arab influences, Christians, Baha’is and Russian residents lived in Iran. People once enjoyed more personal freedoms, from clothing to speech. For Norouzi, democracy is essential to restoring that freedom.
About The Actress
Born in Tehran in the early 1990s, Elnaaz Norouzi moved with her family to Germany at age eight. She began modelling in Europe before moving to India in her twenties to pursue acting. Her breakthrough came with the Netflix series Sacred Games in 2017, which brought her international recognition.
Since then, she has appeared in web series like Abhay, Made in Heaven, and Hai Junoon, as well as films including Jugjugg Jeeyo and Mastii 4. In 2023, she made her Hollywood debut in Kandahar, starring alongside Gerard Butler and Ali Fazal.
Despite her success, Elnaaz Norouzi says she cannot return to Iran because of her outspoken views. Whether Iran will move toward a democratic future is uncertain. But for Norouzi and many others, the desire for change is real and deeply felt.
