They still call me “Sultan” / Once the cinema audience was afraid of me!

Theater News Base: Zero Kashkoli, a veteran film and television actor, said about his lack of work in recent years: “If we do something, we serve the people. Of course, following the media does not allow us to be forgotten.” There was a time when good action movies were made in cinemas that were well received by the people, but unfortunately these days most of the movies have become humorous and commercial. Humorous works may be welcomed, but people also welcome action works.

He continued: For Iranian action cinema, many children have worked hard, playing in negative or positive roles. The flow of cinema production, however, has turned to satire today, and you have to ask the producers and writers why they only make satire.

We still have the power and energy to play in action

Announcing his readiness to appear in action movies, the actor said: “Our ability is still good because we have the necessary strength and energy and we are still exercising.” We always keep our bodies healthy and in shape. An actor must always keep his body in shape, now whatever role he is to be given; What is humor, what is emotional and drama and what is action. An actor must always be ready for work.

He continued: “Incidentally, recently we played with Jamshid Hashempour, directed by Ali Jabbarzadeh, in the movie” Lab Khat “, which was a very good action movie and famous actors were also present in it. These days, I am also playing the series “Blue Nissan”, which starts from the fourth part of my role. Manouchehr Hadi was kind and invited us to play in this series so that we would not be forgotten. Although my presence in this series is short, it is very memorable.

“People always say we have memories with you,” Kashkoli said of people’s reactions on the streets. People like us and call us “Sultan” because I played a role called “Sultan” in the series “Only for You”, and that name remains on me. People respect us a lot. Our people are very kind, lovable and art-loving. In addition to being art lovers, they are also sports lovers. I also work in both fields. I have been in cinema for more than 50 years and I am a teacher in sports and I have an Asian championship. In 1341, I won the first place in Asia in Kuwait, and in 1351, I became the champion of Iranian clubs in the field of weightlifting and won a gold medal. In 1956, I became the champion of Iran in the field of discus throwing. I am also a national referee for bodybuilding and weightlifting.

He continued: “I recently had a trip to Dubai and there the Iranians who saw me came to me with pride and everyone said that we have memories with you.” Everyone likes to be respected by people when they walk the streets, and an actor or athlete likes these reactions. The same Iranian wrestlers who recently won world medals, if the people did not welcome them, it would be as if the medals would not stick to them. These medals are a source of pride for the people. The warm welcome of the people gives us morale and we get energy from them.

The authorities have forgotten us

The veteran actor added about the officials’ behavior towards his peers in the field of acting: “The officials have forgotten us.” Many old actors and athletes are being forgotten. Officials never remember us either. After all, we were heroes at the same time. Both film directors and sports directors have forgotten us. I remember when I had an accident with the film “Border”, Mr. Samuel Khachikian, one of the great directors of Iranian cinema, came to visit me with Abolghasem Talebi, who was the editor of “Cinema Video” magazine at the time. Mr. Zarghami was the director of the cinema at the time, who was very upset by the accident I had and even wanted to transfer me from Zahedan to Tehran for surgery. These people remembered us then, but who do we remember today? nobody!

He added: “Many of these actors are veterans who are tenants today and may not be able to go about their daily lives.” Why not pay attention to these old artists. We have great directors like Majid Javanmard, didn’t he make a few films in his time? Why should he be unemployed today and should not the producers look for him? Mohsen Shahmohammadi and Ali Naqibi and the likes of these old directors, producers and writers are sitting at home today, at least let’s use the experience of these loved ones.

In another part of his speech, Safar Kashkoli said: “When I was playing the series” Mirror of Lessons “, this series was one of the most popular series even in the history of Iranian television. It seems that this series airs on TV at 9 o’clock. My best memory is that when I came to the streets, I was warmly welcomed by the people. Even in the desert, if I went anywhere, there were still people who had seen the “Mirror of Lessons” and called me “Aghasafar”.

They were afraid of me because of the rough plans

He added: “Many people were afraid of me because of the rough roles I played. I remember when I wanted to go to the office. A woman came forward and thanked me for seeing me the night before in the series “Mirror of Lessons”, at the same time her daughter screamed and hid behind her mother! He said my mother is afraid of this gentleman! I went forward and kissed his head and said these are all the roles we play.

Referring to playing a total of 100 negative roles in various movies and series, the actor said: “I still play a negative role today, but I do not even know how to hold a gun properly!” In the movie “Border”, when I was shooting from behind a Land Cruiser, my weapon weighed 14 kg and we also used real arrows! The head of the Zahedan Anti-Narcotics Headquarters at the time told me that this model of shooting from behind a Land Cruiser was not for everyone. You ask, have you seen the guerrilla period? When I said no, it was all because of my interest in cinema and my efforts to play my roles well.

Referring to a memory from the movie “Border”, he said: “For the teaser of that movie, we had to repeat the shooting scene behind the Land Cruiser, and I asked the director and the driver not to increase the speed.” Because I was not connected anywhere and I was standing behind the car with a heavy shotgun. When the recording started, the driver suddenly put his foot on the gas, and now in the film, there is a sequence of how much I was thrown to the sides while shooting. At the same scene, I was thrown from the car on the asphalt, my nose was seriously injured and my forehead was shattered! God really gave me new life. We bought these dangerous things and we were our own stuntmen.

The veteran actor added: “I have played a negative role in most of the movies and series I have acted in.” I was either killing someone or I was in prison. Playing in these negative roles was not for everyone. Some people loved us, but at the same time, some people were afraid of us. Many even hated us. While these were the maps they gave us. If everyone wants to play the role of Imam Hussein (AS), then who should play the role of Shamar? Regardless of these reactions, to this day I have lived among the people, and the people respect us very much.

In the end, Kashkoli said about his relationship with actors of the same age: Jamshid Hashempour is one of my close friends. We played sports together in a club. He worked in his field, kung fu, and I worked as an Asian bodybuilding champion. We are like brothers to each other and we are close friends. I thank God for keeping us healthy so that we can serve the people. We love people. God willing, the corona will be destroyed as soon as possible so that all people can live in comfort and tranquility.