Before rating these actors you guys need to consider their theater performances too. Rashidi and Mashayekhi had pretty average cinema performances, but these guys all come from a very strong theater background where they shined most. I'm not a big fan of live theater performances myself, but you gotta admit, that thing takes real talent.
90% of the credit for Hezar Dastan goes to Ali Hatami for personally funding and building the Shahrak Cinemayee. He even labored for it. Entezami, Mashayekhi, Rashidi and the rest felt obligated to do their absolute best after watching Hatami go through hell for the series. How he managed to finish that project with the country at war and with Khomeini kos-kesh alive is beyond me. A monumental achievement.
Some call it the best show ever produced out of Iran and when watching it one has to keep in mind the time it was made and the conditions of that time.
Likes:
OSTAD POOYA, Fatso and Sly