Did not get the chance to make a film in Iran for twenty years since the establishment of the Islamic regime as his scripts would not get approved by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
Studied at London School of Dramatic Arts and later graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts.
He is from Qajar's descendants. He refers to this in his film Prince Ehtejab which is about a Qajar prince.
On May 10, 2013 Farmanara signed up as a candidature to run for the office of president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.