Mehrdad Pahlbod, born as Ezatollah Minbashian , was also the second husband of Princess Shams Pahlavi. The couple secretly converted to Christianity in the 1950s in Egypt. Pahlbod advocated for music education, theater productions, and the inclusion of modern arts in academic curricula, bridging traditional and contemporary forms.
Mehrdad Pahlbod married Princess Shams Pahlavi, the elder sister of Mohammad Reza Shah, connecting him to royal family. In a notable personal decision, the couple converted to Catholic Christianity while residing in Egypt, reflecting their cosmopolitan outlook. After the 1979 Revolution, Pahlbod and his family relocated to Los Angeles, where he continued to be active in cultural circles and maintained connections with the diaspora. He lived to the age of 101, leaving behind a rich legacy of cultural diplomacy and artistic advocacy.
