Iranian actress' decades-old dream comes true at festival

It was a dream come true for 37-year-old Iranian u00a0actress Laleh Eskandari when she got to see her favourite superstar Ambitabh Bachchan in the flesh at the inauguration of the 10th edition of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).u00a0

Visiting the cultural capital of the state for the first time, the actress looked thrilled to have shared the dais with Big B as a jury member of the fest. Bachchan was honoured for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

"My dream to see Bachchan in person has came into reality," said an elated Iskandari. "He is just amazing and a great person. I was really excited when I saw his 'Sholey'. It is still my all-time-favourite film."u00a0Eskandari is a renowned actress, painter and photographer in Iran. The actress, who has acted in 11 films, 12 telefilms and seven TV series, is also an ardent fan of Abhisekh Bachchan. "I also like Abhishek's film and his best till date is 'Dam Maro Dam.'"u00a0

On the cloud nine after her meeting with the Shahenshah, the actress has now set her eyes on the Badshah of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan. "I have not yet seen or met him (Shah Rukh) but have seen many of his films including 'Kal Ho Na Ho' and his recent 'Don 2'. Iskandari said that her dream to meet Shah Rukh would also come true soon. "Working as a jury member is really a hectic task. I can enjoy watching all the great 14 films shortlisted for world competition in the PIFF. But watching film only as a delegate without any kind of pressure has a different kind of joy," the actress said.

Eskanndari, who has acted in films like 'This woman keeps silence', 'The Whirlpool', 'The Sun Shines Equal on Everybody' and 'The Ernest Family', said, "Iranian films are passing through a phase of drastic changes. Now the films focus on the role of women in a family and the society."u00a0Jabbar Patel, director PIFF, said like most other Iranian actress Iskanndari is a talented and multifaceted person. She had won best actress for film 'The Sun.' in film festival in Italy in 2007.

'Nader & Siman: A Separation' is the Irani film to be screened under the World Competition category ' at the film festival. The film is directed and producer by Asghar Farhadi. The case inclues Peyman Moadi, Leila Hatami, Sahhab Hosseini.u00a0