‘Imam Ali’ series actor unveils backstage

Daryoush Arjmand, the lead actor in the series Imam Ali (AS), has in an interview, responded to journalistic questions about the series. Here’s an excerpt.

The series was only able to show a very small percentage of Imam Ali’s (AS) life and character; but we’re glad we could make a small contribution to the great Imam.

I was afraid of playing the role, as the entire nation knew the character, and if I couldn’t make it, I’d have to flee.

Then, I invoked to God by consulting the holy book Quran; in the first trial, a verse told me to stop. A few months later, when I’d abandoned everything, they came to me, now with totally new cast, and this time, when I invoked to God again, the response was a big yes.

We would work under extremely hot weather; and I’d think how the Imam had lived. The armor was heavy, and we’d have to work the entire day under the hot sun; we’d sweat, and our hands would stick to the sword due to excess heat. The supporting placeholder cast, with spears in hands, would faint one after another, and ambulances took them away. Some were even bitten by snakes, but amidst all the hardships, we had the feeling that a supernatural hand was saving us.

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