It's very difficult to talk about religion in Iran because religion has gotten so mixed up with politics.

One of the biggest blessings in my life is that I have a very wonderful family, a lovely wife and two lovely daughters.

Sometimes we feel like life is like theater, really.

Each person makes their own choice, but my spirit is meant to stay in Iran, especially with the work that I do, and with the emotional connection I have with the country - with all its difficulties, this is why I stay.

It's been interesting to see how similar audiences in the East and West are, actually, and how it makes you realize that when politicians emphasize the differences between our cultures, it's usually because it benefits them more so than us.

The fact is I'm not making a film in order to draw pictures or make images about Iran.

I tend to jot down moments, lines, interactions that don't really make any sense. I try and explain these scattered notes to my close friends, and they become more and more logical. I see screenwriting as a bit like a math equation which I have to solve.