The Beginnings in Theater
Kasbi began his semi-professional theater activities at the age of thirteen at the Southern Youth Palace in Tehran’s Rah-Ahan Square. There, he joined a local theater troupe and began performing in small plays. The 1960s in Iran were a formative time for Iranian theater — modern drama was emerging as a cultural force, supported by institutions like the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran and influenced by both European realism and Iranian storytelling traditions.
In 1350 (1971–72), Kasbi joined the Tehran Theater Department, beginning his formal collaboration with professionals in the field. After completing his military service in 1351–53 (1972–74), he took the university entrance exam again and was accepted into the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Tehran, majoring in acting and directing for cinema and theater. His time there coincided with one of the most dynamic eras in Iranian cultural history — the late Pahlavi period, when Iranian cinema was increasingly recognized internationally, and the theater was becoming a space for intellectual and political dialogue.
During his studies, Kasbi worked as a voice actor and dubbing artist, a field that was highly developed in Iran due to the popularity of foreign films. Dubbing trained him in vocal discipline, timing, and emotional nuance — skills that later shaped his screen performances.
