Interview with actor depicting Imam Hussein’s murderer

Mohammad Fili, who plays the role of Imam Hussein's (AS) murderer in Davood Mirbaqeri's impressive work, 'The Mukhtar Narrative' has bittersweet memories of this role.

Fili said in an interview with local media that he only sought help from Imam Hussein (AS) himself to play one of the most infamous characters in the history of Islam who murdered the Imam.

He considers himself "chosen" in this regard and boasts this performance as one of his honors.

Shamir ibn Dhi'l-Jawshan, commonly known as Shimr or Shemr, was the person who murdered Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the third Shia imam, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.

At first, when the role of Shimr is offered to Mohammad Fili by Davood Mirbaqeri, he did not accept it. But, after the director tells him that if he does not take on the role, the character will be removed from the series altogether, he comes to terms with this role.

Although playing in the series dedicated to Imam Hussein (AS) shows a spiritual passion on his part, but the very dark and negative role given to me had challenges for him. He explains that one day an old woman hits him on the head with her handbag and angrily asks him why he played such a role.

He also says of an image published by a magazine in which his famous appearance as Shimr's character is placed next to a photo of former US president Barack Obama for a comparison in terms of wickedness.

Despite all this, and aside from the hardships, Mohammad Fili still gives a positive answer to the question of whether he is willing to act in another work themed on Ashura, or the day the Imam was murdered. He says he will definitely play in such movies or series, but he is no longer willing to play the role of Shimr.

AG/AG