Like all the best reality TV shows, “Shahs of Sunset” is a character-driven franchise that has been a guilty pleasure for many viewers. You may love the “Shahs of Sunset” stars or love to hate them. You may roll your eyes at their antics or applaud them. Either way, the cast is why many kept returning to the show that aired on Bravo for nine seasons.
The series follows a group of Persian Americans who live in Beverly Hills (the greater area is sometimes called “Tehrangeles”), California. The cast’s interactions with one another (channeling their inner Kardashians), love interests, careers on the rise, vibrant social lives, conflicting demands of their families, and cultural traditions are all part of the drama that keeps viewers coming back.
If the colorful characters of the “Shahs of Sunset” have got you curious, here’s more to know about this glittering crew torn between the desire to party, to see and be seen, or to settle down to married life and responsibilities, keeping their families happy.
Main Cast Members of “Shahs of Sunset”
Debuting on March 11, 2012, “Shahs of Sunset” originally concentrated on Reza Farahan, Golnesa Gharachedaghi, Sammy Younai, Asa Soltan Rahmati, Mike Shouhed, and Mercedes Javid. Younai left after the first season and Soltan Rahmati departed after the sixth. Other Shahs joined in subsequent years.
The “Shahs of Sunset” main cast members have included:
Reza Farahan:
Reza is the Teheran-born real estate agent married to Adam Neely. He deals frequently with outdated attitudes to his sexual orientation. He is also known as the “man behind the mustache,” who relishes the success of his growing hair care line. Star Reza Farahan is determined to rebuild what he once had with his bestie MJ (Mercedes Javid) and wants to be in her son Shams’ life — but of course, there are roadblocks.
Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi:
Starting the show from its debut unemployed and financially dependent on her father, Gharachedaghi went on to become an outgoing entrepreneur. She comes from a wealthy Muslim family, has a fiery temper, likes her evenings out, and has eight tattoos, including one inside her lip. During the second season, she and her sister Leila launched GG’s Extensions, a brand of hair extensions.
Mercedes “MJ” Javid:
Mercedes ‘MJ is a real estate agent with a BA in English literature who works with Reza Farahan at Keller Williams Realty. She grew up battling with her mother and the extra weight she carried — she was put on diet pills when she was only 14 (and later rejected them). She must decide if she will let Farahan into the life of her boy, Shams Francis Feight, convincing her husband Tommy Feight that Farahan’s intentions are pure.
Mike Shouhed:
The Iran-born real estate agent and graduate of UCLA returned home to rebuild after losing money in the Las Vegas commercial real estate market. He married Jessica Parido on March 29, 2015, in the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, and they later separated and divorced. Years of playboy behavior have made those closest to him not take him seriously when he tries his hand at commitment and responsibility.
Asa Soltan Rahmati:
Rahmati left Iran as a political refugee when she was a young girl, and then grew up in Europe and Los Angeles. She became an entrepreneur and artist in Venice, California, publishing her paintings in an art book, “Imagining Ourselves,” and launching Diamond Water, alkaline water that is put in contact with diamonds before it is bottled. She has had a son with musician Jermaine Jackson.
Sammy Younai:
Coming from a Persian-Jewish family, Younai is a residential developer in Beverly Hills who specializes in building multi-million-dollar homes. In season one, he worked with a celebrity developer Mohamed Hadid on a 48,000-square-foot, $58-million house in Bel Air called The Crescent Palace.
Lilly Ghalichi:
Described as the “Persian Barbi,” Ghalichi is an entrepreneur and blog writer who appeared in seasons two and three. She founded a lingerie-inspired line of swimwear known as Swimgerie, and she also founded her own line of eyelashes known as Lilly Lashes. Ghalichi became enmeshed in controversy when she joked during an episode that HIV/AIDS can be spread from a used pair of bikini bottoms.
Shervin Roohparvar:
Appearing in seasons five and six, he is an entrepreneur from Silicon Valley who has had some measure of success in the tech, nightlife, and retail industries.
Destiney Rose:
When the nightclub manager and bartender party planner becomes friends with Mike Shouhed’s girlfriend, Paulina, she finds herself at odds with other “Shahs of Sunset” stars. Seeing how Paulina is treated by Shouhed, Rose questions if she can maintain her friendship with him.
Nema Vand:
Born in New York, but raised in Los Angeles, Vans is a bicoastal director who creates content for major brands and the digital media space. After a fateful pool party damages his relationship with his Sunset friends, he seeks ways to bridge the divide at the same time as he deals with the demise of his company due to Covid-19.
Friends Of the Shahs
Not only does a successful reality series depend on the strength of its main characters, but it also needs a strong supporting cast. These friends of the “Shahs of Sunset” all have their own styles, strengths, and flaws:
Leila Gharachedaghi:
The older sister of GG is an entrepreneur who runs several businesses, ranging from real estate to fashion and beauty. Over the second season, she launches GG’s Extensions with her sister.
Anita Gohari:
Coming from a long line of Middle Eastern Iranian Jewish people, Anita Gohari has a background in fashion merchandising and is a friend of Reza Farahan’s. She also does occasional modeling gigs and is a triathlete.
Adam Neely Farahan:
This is a reality star and post-production editor best known for his role as Reza Farahan’s lover who then became his husband.
Omid Kalantari:
In season two, Omid Kalantari had a recurring role and became engaged to Golnesa Gharachedaghi. The engagement was broken off a month after it was made.
London Laed:
As a life coach, this Persian boss lady is well equipped to handle her own among her friend MJ’s crew. The group calls her out on her overbearing ways.
Jessica Parido:
This is the ex-wife of Mike Shouhed, whose life has thrived off-camera since the two parted ways in 2017 because of his cheating.
Tommy Feight:
Following the disastrous pool party, MJ’s husband, Tommy Feight, stormed over to Reza Farahan’s home and vandalized the outdoor area. He was then arrested and charged with vandalism.
Mona Vand:
The sister of Nema Vand is a doctor of pharmacy and a blogger specializing in wellness and skincare.
Sara Jeihooni:
She is a friend of Reza Farhan’s who is thrust into the group’s goings-on when she attends his housewarming party. She quickly discovers that her new Persian friends might be more than she bargained for.
How Are the “Shahs of Sunset” So Rich?
Some of the Shahs come from family money. For example, Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi is the daughter of Mahmoud Gharachedaghi, who’s a well-known architect whose net worth is more than $25 million dollars. GG had a $7,000 monthly allowance to support her privileged lifestyle.
Other cast members’ money comes from professional successes in diverse areas such as real estate, hair extensions, other hair-care lines, cannabis medications, nightclub management, fashion, technology, event planning, and digital marketing.
Where Can You Watch “Shahs of Sunset?”
You can watch “Shahs of Sunset,” produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions, on Peacock, FuboTV, and Hulu Plus. You are able to stream “Shahs of Sunset” through Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, and iTunes. The show is available, as well, through NBC.com.
Did “Shahs of Sunset” Get Canceled?
After “Shahs of Sunset” ran nine seasons, Bravo’s cancellation of the series came to light in April 2022. Shahs alums Reza Farahan, Mercedes “MJ” Javid, and Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi are apparently in talks with Bravo to do other series (though not together).
In the month before this, it was revealed by Page Six that the police charged philandering Shahs star, Mike Shouhed, for domestic violence, described as “intimate partner violence with injury.” Shouhed is currently engaged to Paulina Ben-Cohen, a TV actress and fashion influencer.
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(images courtesy of BravoTV)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
