ifilm exclusive interview with Mehran Rajabi

In an ifilm exclusive interview, ‘3×4’ actor Mehran Rajabi has talked about his favorite genre, work experiences.   

In 1996 I started to work with Iranian director Reaza Mirkarimi by playing the role of  a serious and strict but compassionate moderator of a school in a series called ‘Hemmat School Kids’. According to Mehran Rajabi, acting in ‘Hemmat School Kids’ was the opportunity that his school days friend, Reza Mirkarimi, provided for him. But Rajabi became an everlasting actor by the highly admired role that he played in ‘The Child and the soldier’ directed by Reza Mirkarimi which won him nomination for Fajr Film Festival award.

 ifilm English has conducted an interview with Mehran Rajabi who plays role in ‘3×4’  currently being aired by the channel.

ifilm: You were graphics instructor and in 1996 played your first role in the series ‘Hemmat School Kids’. How did you enter the world of art?

Mehran Rajabi: My first acting experience took place because veteran director Reza Mirkarimi, who was may school days friend, invited me to attend a filming project in the north of the country. In fact, he had invited me there because he had found me a smiley person who could amuse other people well. Before acting, I worked with the crew and helped them. Then I joined the cast and the role of School moderator was suggested to me. I accepted. After that, in ‘Hemmat School Kids’ I worked both with the cast and the crew at the same time.

ifilm: You work both in cinema and TV products. Which one satisfies your acting taste more?  

Mehran Rjabi: It does not make difference at all. Actors work for people. By people I mean You, Your family, my family, our relatives and other family members who live in the society. The important thing for me is to be able to play the roles in the best way possible.

ifilm: Mostly you act in comedy genre. Of course you have played serious roles so successfully that you have won nomination for receiving Crystal Simorgh from Fajr Film Festival. But you are known as the actor of comedy genre. We want to know if it is based on your choice or the offers that you received dragged you to choose this genre?

Mehran Rajabi: 60 percent of the offers that I have received so far were letters of invitation which invited me to act for the genre of comedy. Of course I personally prefer comedy more. Sometimes I reject the offer but my friends ask me to accept.

ifilm: If you are to play a serious role, What role do you like to perform?

Mehran Rajabi: even the serious roles that I have played so far contain layers of comedy. In fact, I play my real nature (which is a smiley man who tells jokes and makes people laugh) but it is considered as serious. I have no experience in working in historical works or I have little experience in this field. I like ‘Prophet Moses’ series which is on the pre- production stage. A few months ago Jamal Shourjeh, the director of the series, told me not to shave my beard because I would have an offer for you. Of course, If I have free time at that time, I will accept Mr. Shourjeh offer because I like it.

MMF/MMF