Naji won the Silver Bear Award for best actor at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival for his role in director Majid Majidi’s ‘The Song of Sparrows.’

It was the second time that Reza Naji had to fight colorectal cancer.

Fortunately, he could beat the disease after having surgery and 12 rounds of chemotherapy, ifilmtv.com reported.

Born in 1942, Naji dreamed of becoming an actor from an early age that made him take part in various street plays.

It was Majid Majidi’s acclaimed movie, ‘Children of Heaven,’ which brought Naji nationwide fame, and later he appeared in several movies, including ‘The Birth of a Butterfly’ and ‘Baran.’

In 2007, he starred in another Majidi film, entitled, ‘The Song of Sparrows,’ and delivered an astonishing performance which brought him worldwide fame and won him several nominations and awards.

Among his achievements are: Nomination for best actor award at the first Iran Cinema Celebration for ‘Children of Heaven,’ nomination for best actor in a supporting role at the 19th Fajr International Film Festival for ‘Baran,’ and the special jury award at the 22nd Fajr International Film Festival for ‘Him.’