Bijan Banafshekhah

Bijan Banafshekhah, honestly, the guy’s a bit of a legend in Iranian comedy TV and film circles. You see his name pop up, you know you’re getting laughs, or at least something a little offbeat. He’s got this knack for taking everyday situations and just twisting them into hilarious chaos. Take “Ghahremanan-e Koochak” from 2017—he’s not afraid to poke fun at the little absurdities of life, turning what should be simple into a total circus. The humor’s a bit dry, a bit slapstick, and always with a wink to the audience. Back in 2011, “Sakhteman Pezeshkan” came around, and man, that show is like the Iranian version of your favorite workplace sitcom, but set in a quirky doctor’s office. Bijan just owns the screen, playing off the other actors with this effortless charm. He’s not trying too hard; he just is funny. You get these scenes where the characters are dealing with bizarre patients or office politics, and Bijan just rolls with it, adding that perfect deadpan line at the right moment. Then there’s “Bomb-e Khande” (2008), which is a bit of a throwback but still, it’s classic Banafshekhah. It’s sketch comedy, lots of quick scenes, and he’s everywhere—one minute a grumpy shopkeeper, next a clueless dad. He’s versatile, never feels stale. His comedy’s accessible, but there’s always this layer of satire—like, he’s not just making you laugh, he’s nudging you to notice all the weird stuff people just accept as normal.