DYNASTY’S PEJ VAHDAT ON DYNASTY SEASON 5 AND ACTING

BY IRVIN RIVERA | EDITOR: CLARA SEELY-KATZ

Despite the numerous obstacles PEJ VAHDAT had to face to get to where he is today, he stays humble and grateful for every opportunity he gets. Working steadily over the past years, Vahdat has secured numerous roles on many popular shows like Bones, Shameless, and The Old Man, and has worked among some legends--Kevin Bacon and Betty White to name a couple. Building rich stories and getting to know each of his characters is something Vahdat loves about acting, to each role he brings a unique and fresh take.

How did playing Arastoo Vaziri in Bones influence your career?

Bones changed my life. I was working as a waiter, telemarketing, temping, and working at a clothing store, just to name a few jobs. Bones afforded me the ability to quit those jobs and solely focus on acting full-time. And eventually, it allowed me to fulfill my dream of helping my parents retire. It has had a profound effect on my career, and more importantly, my life.

Let's talk about your Dynasty character Dex Dexter. How does he shake things up in the 5th season of the show?

Dex comes in hot! He immediately falls in love with Alexis and they become this power couple. I think he is very threatening to the others in the sense that they can't see what his motives are and it's terrifying for them.

How would you describe Dex's character evolution throughout the season?

I think he comes off as very innocent and quiet at first. But by the end of the season, he finds his voice and shows he's not a pushover.

What's the best part about playing Dex's character?

Without a doubt working with Elaine Hendrix. I couldn't have asked for a better scene partner. She's so good and such a kind person. We became quite close throughout so I'm grateful for our friendship.

Tell us about your roles in The Old Man and City On A Hill.

In The Old Man, I play Faraz Hamzad an Afghani freedom fighter. Hamzad plays a major role in Dan Chase's (Jeff Bridges) past. And on City on a Hill, I play FBI agent Ramin Milani. Milani is Jackie Rohrs' (Kevin Bacon) "inside guy" now that Jackie has been ousted from the FBI.

What challenges did you experience while filming your shows?

The challenge for me while filming The Old Man was learning a language I don't speak phonetically and making it as authentic as I could. I worked hours a day for weeks to make sure those scenes were perfect. Or as close to perfect as I could get them. And consequently, those particular scenes became some of my favorite scenes I've done as an actor. As far as City on a Hill, I would say the challenges were being the new guy on a show that's been around a few seasons. But working with Kevin Bacon made me feel right at home and that quickly became an incredible experience.

How did you manage to rise above the challenges?

Like with anything, the harder I work the better chance I have at succeeding. So I just worked and worked to get through any fear or anxiety I may have had going in. I always find that to be the best way to overcome these types of challenges.

What do you enjoy the most about playing these characters?

With Hamzad I love working with an accent. It's so far removed from who I am that I get lost in the character easily and I'm much freer as an actor. With Milani, I've always wanted to play law enforcement and especially the FBI. I love being an Iranian American portraying characters like him. I'm grateful to Tom Fontana for writing such a great character.

What is your proudest moment ever from acting?

Oh wow, that's a great question. I've had a lot of proud moments but I think my proudest was performing at the Lincoln Center in a play called Blood and Gifts. I felt as though I was working with the very best and I think I held my own. So that I am extremely proud of.

Everyone's process is different and each person has a unique approach to things. Can you walk us through your creative process whenever you film a scene?

My approach changes from character to character and from job to job. But the main thing I focus on is what does my character want in the scene? What is his relationship to the other characters and how can he accomplish his goal? Obviously there's a lot of backstory for each character which is a good starting point. The more freedom I have the more interesting places I can go with the scene.

Who and what inspires you? What's your dream project?

My parents are my biggest inspiration. They immigrated from Iran so that me and siblings could pursue a life without barriers. I get a lot of joy when my father's last name pops up on the screen. I also am driven by the love of this art form. There's nothing I enjoy more than getting lost in becoming someone else. Living their life inside and out is a gift and I am forever grateful to be able to do this for a living.

Out of all the roles that you've played, is there any role/character that resonated with you the most and why?

I did a play called Disgraced years ago where I played a very high-powered attorney who was Muslim American and was living a very "white" life. Hiding his heritage as much as he could for fear of not succeeding as much as he wanted and out of general insecurity that can be brought on when you are a minority. I grew up with a lot of those same insecurities but thankfully I grew out of them and proudly represent my heritage as much as I can.

Aside from acting, what else keeps you busy?

I'm a big sports fan I love my San Francisco Giants and 49ers. I also love the Chicago Bulls. Sports are a big passion of mine. I also have two dogs that I'm in love with and they take up a lot of my time. Other than that I love a great dinner with friends and family and just being around good energy.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

Haha, that's a tough one. I feel at this point in my life I would be a self-help book. In the last couple of years I've really come to appreciate looking inside and trying to better myself. Life can be difficult at times and I have tried to learn new ways/ philosophies to go through life with as much peace and gratitude as I can.