Since David Franzoni’s announcement that he would cast Leonardo DiCaprio as Rumi in his next film, people from Rumi’s native country, Afghanistan, as well as Iran, Turkey, and people of color the world over have raised their voices in collective frustration at Hollywood’s attempt (once again) to whitewash the cultural heritage and history of another nation. On Twitter, the hashtag #RumiWasntWhite started trending as people shared their passionate outcry against this proposed film.

Yet Hollywood won’t change until we, the audience, demand change and show them that change is profitable. There are 1.7 billion Muslims in the world who have a vested interest in supporting a film about two of the greatest Sufi Saints of all history, Rumi & Shams of Tabriz. People all over the world want to see authentic portrayal of historical figures, not white American actors wearing blackface, brownface, or yellowface. We want to see our own experiences and cultures reflected back to us. With that in minds, there are two actors who would fit these roles perfectly, and have had long careers in Hollywood films.

These are the stars that will make this film a blockbuster worldwide:

Donnie Keshawarz as Rumi https://www.shotgundigital.com/donniekeshawarz

Shaun Toub as Shams Tabrizi               http://www.shauntoub.com/reels.php

Donnie Keshawarz is an Afghan American actor who has played many diverse roles over the course of his career. His work in television includes a starring as Detective Hanson on the ABC show Forever as well as the role of Andrew Vida on the hit FX show Damages. He’s played extended roles on the hit shows the Sopranos and 24, as well as Homeland. His work in films includes a role as Bruno in the Experimenter, starring Wynona Ryder, Peter Saarsgard, and John Leguizamo. In a pivotal moment for the plot of the movie, he played Donaldson in the Adjustment Bureau starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. And more recently, he played a significant role as Pinchas Simkin in Adam Sandler’s hit Netflix film, the Cobbler. Donnie is a diverse actor of many talents, and he would add a level of depth and authenticity to the role of Rumi that none can imitate.

Shaun Toub is an Iranian American actor whose credits include appearances in over 100 television episodes including Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Castle, NCIS, Chuck, Lost, Charmed, ER, Just Shoot Me, JAG, Married with Children and various movies made for television. His filmography includes his memorable performance in Bad Boys, Broken Arrow, The Kite Runner, Charlie Wilson's War, Iron Man, The Last Airbender and the Oscar-winning film Crash. His recent work includes playing Majid Javadi in Season 3 of Homeland and the upcoming film Papa, the life story of Ernest Hemingway, in the role of Evan Shipman the poet. Because of his incredible versatility and past experience playing poet Evan Shipman, he is the perfect candidate to portray Rumi’s Master & teacher, Shams Tabrizi.

We, the undersigned, would like to petition David Franzoni and all interested parties in this film project to please highly consider the desires of the movie going community, as well as the peoples of the cultures being depicted the world over, in casting for this upcoming film. Our signatures indicate a desire for change, a hope for better representation, and an opportunity for Hollywood to truly reflect the diversity of heritage that exists among its own actors.

Crystal Keshawarz - Co-founder, Afghan Women in the Diaspora