This season BRAVO has a new hit with the Shahs of Sunset. The Ryan Seacrest-produced reality show follows a group of Iranian-American friends who live in Beverly Hills.
Cast member Reza Farahan is openly gay and has made a big splash with his bubbly personality. We tracked him down shortly after the premiere to find out what makes this real estate mogul tick.
Nightspots Magazine: How did get involved with this show in the first place?
Reza Farahan: My closest friend of over twenty years MJ Javid called me up and heard RSP (Ryan Seacrest Productions) were pitching a concept and would I like to be part of a meeting. They just spoke of the concept with broad strokes so I put it on the back burner. It was super organic.
NM: So you have met Ryan Seacrest himself?
RF: Many times. We e-mail, we talk, he is amazing.
NM: It looks like you are having a lot of fun on the show.
RF: The show is my life. I am a funny guy and I enjoy life. It is good to be here.
NM: You mention transforming yourself from being awkward and overweight. We you bullied when you were younger?
RF: No, not that much. I have always had my feet planted firmly on the ground. I was raised by amazing parents. I am not that guy that people are going to bully.
NM: When did you come out to your family?
RF: When I was 21.
NM: Were they accepting of it?
RF: My mom was hysterical for a couple of minutes, she then pulled herself together and looked me dead in the eye and told me she loved me. She said she would support me until the day she died and nothing between us would ever change. From that day it has only gotten better.
NM: Where were you for premiere night of Shahs of Sunset?
RF: Ryan Seacrest has a big party and all of the families were together in a restaurant watching it. I was lucky enough to fly to New York and be in the Watch What Happens Live clubhouse. I watched it with Andy Cohen and NeNe Leakes.
NM: What else can you tell readers about this season?
RF: The show takes people on a journey. Where some of these relationships are today do not necessarily end up in the same place. One of the most transformational conversations I have ever had with my father happened while we were filming the show. In my 38 years of life I have never seen my father cry but during this conversation we were both crying. It is crazy that the cameras caught one of the most important conversations I have ever had with my father.
NM: Now you will always have that like a scrapbook.
RF: Totally. I am actually freaking out because I went into the ugly cry where you can't breathe! I don't know how I am going to feel watching it.
NM: Have you ever been to Chicago?
RF: I have not been to Chicago. That is one place I have always wanted to visit.
Visit www.bravotv.com for details and don't miss an episode of The Shahs of Sunset every Sunday.
