03 March,2026 07:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mandana Karimi
The ongoing US-Iran war has led to chaos and tensions worldwide, including attacks on Middle Eastern countries. The strikes caused the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Iran-born actress Elnaaz Norouzi is celebrating his death, Bigg Boss-fame Mandana Karimi is willing to leave India and go back to Iran as she feels betrayed here.
In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, when she was asked if she would like to go back to Iran, the actress said, "The moment they announce that this regime is gone, I will go. Anyway, my bags are packed, and I am leaving India as well. That is the plan because I feel I am breaking up with India. It is very difficult for me because I came to India when I was really young. India has given me everything: my modelling career, my acting career, the love that I got, and the friends that I have. But I feel I don't have a voice in India."
She further added, "In these past two months, I have never felt so homesick and lonely in Bombay. I have a lot of friends here, but unfortunately, I went to protests, and I was talking about Iran so openly that I lost a lot of 'so-called' friends. I feel India has betrayed me in a way. India has given me what it was supposed to give, and now it's time to move on, and hopefully, I am going to move to Iran."
The actress' comment comes amidst the unrest in the Middle East after Israel's attack on Iran. The Middle East is witnessing intense bombing, drone, and missile strikes after Israel carried out pre-emptive strikes against Iran, killing its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran is observing 40 days of public mourning following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran retaliated with intensified strikes at US air bases across Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Israel and the US also took out Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, who was the Supreme Leader of Iran for just 24 hours. With Ali Khamenei and Arafi gone, North Korea's Kim Jong Un is the only Supreme Leader in the world.
