Bahareh Kianafshar (Persian: بهاره کیانافشار; born May 2, 1983) is an Iranian actor. She began her professional acting career in 2006 with the television series Kolah Pahlavi, portraying the character "Shadi Mostasharnia", with her voice dubbed by Fariba Ramezanpour. This role brought her significant recognition. She received nominations for the Hafez Award for her performances in the series Asheghaneh (2016–2017) and Golshifteh (2017–2018).
Early life Bahareh Kianafshar was born on 2 May 1983 in Tehran, Iran. She was introduced to theatre during her primary school years, but her parents were not supportive of her pursuing acting as a career. During high school, she aspired to attend a theatre school and study arts, but her parents opposed this, preferring that she pursue a medical education. Uninterested in the sciences, Kianafshar opted for a diploma in mathematics and physics and later studied computer engineering at university.
In 2004, at the age of 19 and while still a university student, Kianafshar joined the theatre group led by Azita Hajian, where she trained in physical movement, tone, and expression. In 2006, through an introduction by her high school classmate Tina Pakravan, she secured the role of Shadi Mostasharnia in Kolah Pahlavi. In 2008, she made her cinematic debut in the film Shirin, directed by Abbas Kiarostami.
Health Ambassador for Behnam Dehshpour Charity Kianafshar has been a long-time volunteer and active supporter of the Behnam Dehshpour Charity Institute. In 2015, during the charity's year-end celebration, she was appointed as the Health Ambassador for the institute.
Consideration for Lead Role in the Controversial Film Laleh During the 2012 Fajr Film Festival, the producers of the controversial film Laleh (based on the life of Laleh Seddigh, an Iranian motorsport champion) announced that Kianafshar had been selected for the lead role. However, it was later reported in some media outlets that her selection was canceled due to her limited proficiency in English. Mahnaz Afshar was also previously considered for the role. Ultimately, Sara Amiri was chosen as the lead actress for Laleh.
Songwriting Kianafshar wrote the lyrics for the song "To Hasti," performed by Bahram Radan. The music video for the song was released in 2013.
She also wrote the lyrics for five tracks on Radan's album The Other Side.
Filmography
Cinema YearTitleDirector2024Moses, Friend of God: At the Time of DawnEbrahim Hatamikia2023Don't Be Shy 2: Ghanbar's Separation from SanamReza Maghsoudi2021NamourDavood Bidel2021Glass HouseAmir Pourkian2021KosovoMeysam Hashemi Taba2020Duet SongArezoo Arzanesh2019Dog LeashMehran Ahmadi2019Black CatKarim Amini2019Silver ManMohammad Hossein Latifi2019Boy KillerMohammad Hadi Karimi2019Sohrab's DreamAli Ghavitan2018WeightlessMehdi Fard Ghaderi2018Camel CoatMehdi Ali Mirzaei2017Hot ScentAli Ebrahimi2017Woman's EnemyKarim Amini2017Hornet's NestBorzoo Niknejad2016MahouraHamid Zargarnezhad2016Human ComedyMohammad Hadi Karimi2016YellowMostafa Taghizadeh2015BarcodeMostafa Kiaei2015Where Are My Shoes?Kiumars Pourahmad2014Ayn Shin GhafGhasem Jafari2014WavelengthFaramarz Shahbazian2012Nowhere, NobodyEbrahim Sheibani2012SinnersFaramarz Gharibian2008ShirinAbbas Kiarostami
Television YearTitleDirector2017Yellow TapePouria Azarbaijani2014Sometimes Look BackMaziar Miri2004–2010Pahlavi HatSeyed Ziaeddin Dari
Web YearTitleDirector2025Don't Be ShyReza Maghsoudi2024AbanReza Dadoui2024ExileAmir Pourkian2023Turkish CoffeeAlireza Amini2021SodaIman Yazdi2021ProfessionalMostafa Taghizadeh2020I Want to Stay AliveShahram Shah Hosseini2018Hashtag Aunt CockroachMohammad Moslemi2017GolshiftehBehrooz Shoeibi2016PassionateManouchehr Hadi
Short films YearTitleDirector2017Secret Presence of an AlienElham Atyabi2014Take a Seat DarlingAli Nazari2004Secret of the Little Red FishPouria Jahanshad
Theatre YearTitleDirector2012Crows and LiesAbbas Ghaffari2012Inspector Hound RealBourjin Abdolrazaghi2013Scent of Coffee, Corn, and KebabEhsan Karami2014WOWTino Salehi2015The UntouchablesAlireza Koushk Jalali2015Hotel GuestsHamidreza Azarang2017IcelandAida Keykhaei
Stage reading YearTitleDirector2016HairEhsan Karami2016One Minute of SilenceMohammad Yaghoubi2017Scenes from My Father's LifeAfshin Akhlaghi
Awards and honors AwardCategoryFilmResultSource14th Hafez AwardsBest Actress in Television DramaPahlavi HatNominated17th Hafez AwardsBest Actress in Television DramaPassionateNominated19th Hafez AwardsBest Actress in Television ComedyGolshiftehNominated
References
External links
Bahareh Kian Afshar On SourehCinema (in Persian)