Iranian actor Hamid Farrokhnejad splits from “Muhammad (S)” project

TEHRAN,Jan.15 (MNA) -- Prominent Iranian actor Hamid Farrokhnejad said that he won’t act in “Muhammad (S)”, a film project that is being made by an international crew in Iran. His appointment to play his role in the project has coincided with his contract to appear in “The Restitution”. “Muhammad (S)”, which is being directed by Majid Majidi, will portray the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S) from the age of 12 until his appointment to prophethood. Farrokhnejad was to play the role of Abu Sufyan, one of the leading opponents of the Prophet Muhammad (S) before accepting Islam. No replacement was mentioned for Farrokhnejad. He has to leave Tehran for Moscow next week for playing his part in “The Restitution”, about Iranians living under the Allied occupation of Iran during World War II. Actor Amin Tarokh had previously withdrawn from the project in October, but gave no reason for his withdrawal. He had a contract to play the role of Abd al-Muttalib, the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad (S). Alireza Shojanuri replaced him in the project. Majidi and the Italian makeup artist Giannetto De Rossi have jointly done the casting for the film. A number of prominent cineastes from around the world are working on “Muhammad (S)”. Academy Award winning visual effects supervisor and filmmaker Scott E. Anderson, three-time Academy Award winning Italian director of photography Vittorio Storaro, world-renowned Croat production designer Miljen Kreka Kljakovic and several other world celebrated cineastes are also collaborating with Majidi on the project.