'This is Us' Season 4: Afghan immigrant Bahara Golestani's Dr. Asmaan and other new characters will keep you glued to your TV
The highly anticipated Season 4 of 'This is Us' premiered Tuesday, September 24, and expanded the universe in a way none of us could have anticipated. From the forgotten past to the distant future, 'Strangers' proves that there are many stories to be told - and we are glad to hear all of them. One of the biggest storylines that debuted in the episode is that of Cassandra (Jennifer Morrison), an army veteran suffering PSTD.
We see her story from the time she is serving in Afghanistan, and there we meet Dr. Asmaan, a brave and devoted doctor who wants to protect her people. In an attempt to do just this, she makes a deal with Cass — photo of a wanted terrorist in return for secure passage to the United States for her and her child, and water for her village. Unfortunately, things do not go according to plan, and Cass is ridden with guilt, while Asmaan is left with no village.
Bahara Golestani, the Afghan immigrant who portrayed the role of Asmaan beautifully in the premiere episode, tells MEA WorldWide (MEAWW), how important the show has been for her, especially because of the various subjects that it touches in a crucial time such as this. "Watching Randall when he was little and the challenges he faced at times takes me back to my own childhood, not that it was exactly the same," she says, adding how her family moved a lot when she was little.
"I’m not talking from one neighborhood to another, but from one country to another country, as we were refugees," she says.
"I remember when I was living in Russia, I was the only child with dark hair and from Afghanistan in my school. That was hard. I just wanted to fit in and be like everybody else but for some reason, I never felt like I did. We also lived in Ukraine and then moved to the US when I was 10. I didn’t speak a word of English at the time. I’m very proud of my parents for everything they’ve done for me and my siblings. I can now appreciate all of those things and all the sacrifices they made for us but at the time it was hard for me as a child."
This relatability and resulting adoration for the show is exactly why she was nervous about joining the cast. "As an actress, you always dream of certain characters you would love to portray. This was definitely that character for me. Of course, there were some nerves, but focusing on work is most important to me. I’ve learned to be as transparent as possible and to use any jitters towards being truthful in bringing a character to life. Ultimately, it was an honor to be a part of such a tremendous cast and my excitement outweighed any apprehensions," she says.
As an immigrant, this character in itself was so important to her, she says, explaining how 92% of scripted TV shows have NO MENA [Middle East and North Africa region] series regulars.
"I started my career in theater where I played various roles from all walks of life. Representation has been on the rise and is a conversation that needed to be had and needs to continue. I hope that in the very near future there are more roles written for MENA actors in all genres of television and film," she says.
"I can’t wait for the world to see what we have in store next. What I love about the show is how you can relate to each one of the characters in your own unique way at different stages in your life," she says, echoing the fans' sentiments about why we love these characters so much. "...there’s so much humanity about each one of them and their stories."
You can watch Golestani play Asmaan in the upcoming episodes of 'This is Us' Season 4, which will air every Tuesday night on NBC.