Chinese student shoots to fame in Iran for role in TV series

Zhang Menghan, a fluent Persian-speaking student at the University of Tehran. [Photo/Xinhua]

A female Chinese student studying in Iran became well-known across the country after recently playing a role in Iran's top TV series The Capital.

The Capital, now into its fourth season, mainly tells the story of a truck driver and his family from an ordinary village in northern Iran. The show has been a popular since its inception in 2012.

Zhang Menghan, a fluent Persian-speaking student at the University of Tehran, was recommended by one of her teachers in 2014 to be a crew member before shooting the third season.

In The Capital 3, Arastu married Chun Chang (played by Zhang), a Chinese maid he met in a restaurant on his way to Iran from Turkey.

Zhang said the crew members encouraged and helped her adapt to the filming despite her lack of acting experience.

The series aired at 10pm during the month of Ramadan, a prime time for TV stations in the Islamic world and Zhang's role brought many compliment from the audiences.

Zhang said she was so popular that she was getting recognized by Iranian friends when she went out in public.

In 2015, Zhang joined the cast and crew members of The Capital for their fifth season in which Arastou searched for his missing Chinese wife. His journey eventually takes him to China.

For the first time ever, some parts of the TV series were filmed in Beijing, including the famous Great Wall and Tian'anmen Square.

The Capital helped more Iranians get a better understanding of China as many Chinese cultural elements were displayed in the series.