Iranian actress Elnaaz Norouzi slams protests in India mourning Khamenei, says people lack full information
Elnaaz Norouzi criticises protests in India mourning the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, saying protesters lack full context, and shares her view on Iran’s future amid ongoing conflict.
March 05, 2026 / 18:59 IST
Elnaaz, who had previously welcomed the news of his reported death, told news agency ANI that the protesters lack accurate context about Khamenei’s legacy. - Elnaaz Norouzi criticizes mourning protests for Khamenei in India
- She says protesters lack context on Khamenei's actions
- Iran launches missile strikes after Khamenei's reported death
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Following the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US–Israeli strike, several Shia Muslim communities across India have held protests mourning his demise. In response, Iran-born actress Elnaaz Norouzi — who has openly criticised Khamenei’s regime in the past — has strongly criticised these mourning protests in her latest interview. Elnaaz, who had previously welcomed the news of his reported death, told news agency ANI that the protesters lack accurate context about Khamenei’s legacy. She told ANI, “It is very sad. But I think this is happening only because they do not have the information... They do not know what atrocities this person (Khamenei) had committed in the name of religion. He had killed so many people. They do not know this. They just know that he's a religious leader, and they blindly followed him.”
Born in Iran and later moving to Germany before building her career in India, Elnaaz believes that most people in Iran are now yearning for positive change, even as the broader situation remains deeply uncertain amid the ongoing conflict. She explained, “Everybody is upset about the war, and everybody is scared about what's going to happen next. It's a very uncertain situation. But what I can say is that the majority of people of Iran are actually feeling a glimpse of hope for a change that they've been waiting for 47 years. They have been told to stay in their homes and to stay safe. They know that Israel and America are not targeting them. They're targeting the IRGC and the leaders specifically. I spoke to my family last night, and they're fine...”
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In another interview with Bollywood Hungama, Elnaaz had also revealed that she plans to leave India, where she established a successful career in acting and modelling. “But I feel like I don't have a voice in India. And in these past two months, I have never felt so homesick and so lonely.”
Also read: Iranian actress and former reality TV contestant Mandana Karimi reveals she is leaving India: "I feel like I don't have a voice here"
According to reports, the US and Israeli strikes resulted in the death of Ayatollah Khamenei along with four senior military and security officials, with large explosions reported in Tehran and several major Iranian cities last week. In retaliation, Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting US assets and allied forces across the region — including in Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan — escalating the conflict in West Asia and raising concerns for civilians and expatriates alike. (With inputs from ANI)
M Snehanjali is a Sub Editor and journalist with over two years of experience covering general news and entertainment in digital newsroom.
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