‘Her Telugu is so fluent!’ – Director Karuna Kumar on Nora Fatehi in ‘Matka’

MUMBAI: After an eight-year hiatus, Nora Fatehi is back in Telugu cinema, stepping into a lead role this time alongside Varun Tej in the highly anticipated pan-India film Matka, directed by Karuna Kumar. Known for her electrifying dance performances in hits like Temper, Baahubali: The Beginning, Kick 2, and Oopiri, Nora is now taking on a new challenge as an actress.

The director says, “Im Super excited to introduce Nora as an actress to Telugu audiences, she plays the second female lead and will be seen as a Vizag girl. To immerse herself in the character better, she took classes to learn Telugu and decided to dub the dialogues herself. Im in awe of her dedication, her Telugu is so fluent. Last night, after we finished shooting a special disco song and an important scene, she came to me and said, ‘This is my all-time career-best performance.’

Matka is set in 1950s Visakhapatnam and draws inspiration from real-life events. The story revolves around the notorious gambling game Matka, which shaped the lives of many during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, bringing both fortune and misfortune. This gripping narrative promises to captivate South Indian audiences with its raw and gritty portrayal.