Fardin was a former wrestling champion, winning the silver medal at the 1952 world freestyle wrestling championships in Tokyo. Known by millions around the world as the “King of Hearts.” Best film & best actor prizes for his legendary film “Soltaneh Ghalbha” at First National Film Festival in 1969. After the Revolution in 1979, he was able to act in only one film, The Damned, before being banished from the movies. The most popular actor in cinema, his films became illegal after the revolution but they continue to circulate on video. At his funeral, a crowd of over 20,000 mourners gathered to pay respects in central Tehran.
A very popular form of such art was Pardeh-Khani. Similar to the Benshi of silent Japanese cinema, a Pardeh-khan (narrator) would uncover the painting as the story progressed. Another type of art in the same category was Nagali. A Nagal (or storyteller) would do an entertaining performance usually in Ghahve-khanes (coffeehouses), which were the main forums for cultural interactions between people. As a performing artist, Nagal had to possess a good oratorical and singing voice as well as theatrical talent.
