TEHRAN -- A number of actors and cultural figures gathered on Tuesday at Tehran’s Imam Ali (AS) Religious Arts Museum to celebrate the 82nd birthday of leading actor Jamshid Mashayekhi.

Actors Behzad Farahani and Mohammad Shiri, and filmmakers Yadollah Samadian and Kamran Qadakchian were among the guests at the ceremony, Persian media reported.

Farahani praised Mashayekhi for his many virtues and said, “All these years I have seen him serving his people and standing for them against the enemy. He composes poetry and also does calligraphy. I have learned a lot from him.”

Writer and filmmaker Masud Forutan said he was happy to have been collaborating with Mashayekhi, adding, “We must thank (Masud) Kimiai (director of “Qeysar”, 1969) who made the film and we cannot forget the uncle of Qeysar (Mashayekhi) in this film.”

Director of the Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality Mahmud Salahi was next to talk about Mashayekhi, calling him an eternal figure who has remained in the hearts of people for his good character, which goes far beyond his artistic career.

Mashayekhi was last to appear on stage and wished he would have a chance to sit and hold talks with poet Mohammadreza Shafi-Kadkani for five minutes.
“Many say the private life of artists and actors have nothing to do with people but I believe they must be symbols for people to teach them,” he concluded.

Mashayekhi embarked on his stage career in the late 1940s. He debuted in Ebrahim Golestan’s “Brick and Mirror” (1965). 

Since then he has acted in numerous films and TV series during his acting career. Bahman Farmanara’s “A Little Kiss” (2005) was the last feature-length film in which he acted. However, he has had cameos in few films, the last of which was “Good Friends” by Majid Qarizadeh, which was screened in September. 

Photo: Actor Jamshid Mashayekhi cuts the cake for his 82nd birthday celebration at the Imam Ali (AS) Religious Arts Museum in Tehran on December 6, 2016. Actor Mohammad Shiri is also seen in the photo. (IRNA/Abolfazl Arab Javadi)

RM/YAW