Umid Iskandarov, who worked as a chef in Ukraine, had an unsuccessful first marriage, and became a father at the age of 43: why is he not acting in movies?
Umid Iskandarov, who worked as a chef in Ukraine, had an unsuccessful first marriage, and became a father at the age of 43: why is he not appearing in movies?
Actor Umid Iskandarov, well known to audiences for his roles in the films "Farhod va Shirin", "Zarb", and "Hamroh", as well as in numerous music videos, turned 46 on September 24. We take a look at the life and career path of the actor, who was active during the golden era of Uzbek cinema but has now become much quieter in the art scene.
### "I was on the local police officer's watchlist"
Umid Iskandarov was born into a family of creatives. His father was also one of the famous creative figures of his time, having worked for many years at the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan.
— My father, Qurbonali Mahsudxonzoda, was a famous radio presenter of his time. He worked at the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan for 40 years. He had a very beautiful voice. He read the news so beautifully that he could captivate the audience. Since we were three brothers in the family, we used to help our mother with the housework. My father supervised our studies, while my mother taught us household chores. She even taught us the secrets of ironing clothes. In my childhood, I was an extremely mischievous and playful boy. I was even on the "uchastkavoy" (local police officer's) watchlist. After my behavior took a turn for the worse, my father thought the Russian school was having a negative influence and wanted me to study at an Uzbek school, says Umid Iskandarov.
### "My father had another family"
The actor also mentioned that it was difficult for his mother during his childhood, but he did not hold a grudge against his father for this.
— What kind of problem existed between them is unclear to me. After my father divorced my mother, he started another family. He has two daughters from that family. My mother was left with three sons, and she had her share of difficulties. However, my father was never indifferent to his sons. I acknowledge my sisters and love them. My father was originally from Turkestan, and my mother was from Samarkand. In our childhood, we often went to Kazakhstan to see my father's relatives. Therefore, I never felt that my father lived apart from us. In my life, both my father and my mother are precious to me, says the actor.
### "I was a head chef in Ukraine"
Usually, actors are close to art from childhood. However, Umid Iskandarov did not have such an interest. He never even thought of becoming an actor.
— Since I was a boy interested in street life in my childhood, my father also wanted me to learn a trade. After graduating from school, I became an apprentice to a chef and learned the secrets of the trade. On the advice of my acquaintances, I went to Ukraine to work. Since I knew Russian, it was not difficult for me to adapt to the work. After six years, I even reached the position of head chef in a restaurant. But I know very well how difficult it is to live in emigration. One day, I heard about a film casting and just decided to try it out. The most interesting part is that I was approved for the role. However, for some reasons, I couldn't shoot in the film and returned to Uzbekistan at the age of 25, says actor Umid Iskandarov.
### "I entered the institute at the age of 25"
Umid Iskandarov entered the world of cinema much later than his peers. However, the handsome young man's talent appealed to directors, and they began inviting him to leading roles.
— At the age of 25, I was admitted to the Faculty of Television and Radio Directing at the Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts and Culture. Starting from my third year, I began receiving invitations to films. In 2008, I starred in a film called "Qasd". But for some reason, that film was never screened. It is not even available on the internet, says the actor.
### "The main reason for my divorce was childlessness"
Umid Iskandarov worked prolifically from 2009 to 2015. His participation not only in films but also in music videos was well-received by the audience. During the peak of his career — in 2009 — he married the famous makeup artist Renata. Everyone admired the couple, who understood each other well. Unfortunately, in 2015, they announced their divorce.
— After getting married, both a man and a woman want to become parents. Renata also dreamed of this. She used to say, "If we have a child, I will leave all my work and busy myself with them, we will have many children." It didn't happen. We tried very hard. There was no place we didn't go to. In the end, at the last place we visited, they told us everything to our faces. "Both of you are perfectly healthy, you just don't match each other. If you marry someone else, and your wife marries someone else, you will both have children," they said. I didn't want to do IVF; I didn't think it was the right thing.
In the meantime, we also planned to adopt a child from an orphanage. At that time, my father found out about the test results and said, "You don't know the parents or the lineage of the child you would take from the orphanage. We won't tell the daughter-in-law to leave; if she agrees, let her let you marry another wife." But what woman would agree to get a second wife for her husband, says the actor.
### "I wish patience to those who can wait, but there is no point in tormenting each other"
Photo: Instagram — There have been people before me who waited for children for several years, and there will be after me. This is one of the situations that can be encountered in life. Those who can bear this burden will bear it. I wish patience to those who can be patient. I will speak openly: I advise those who cannot be patient and, like me, do not agree to IVF, to let each other go while they are still young. Because later, divorcing after getting older can have even more painful consequences.
It is better for both sides to have time to build their next lives. This is my personal opinion. This issue must be thought over seriously anyway. Either you have to agree to take action through modern medicine, or you have to divorce earlier.
There is no point in tormenting each other. I believe in love, but you have to put real life on the scale. Personally, in my values, the parents' consent comes first.
### "I want human destiny to be as Allah wrote it"
The actor also explained why he rejected the option of modern medicine.
Photo: Instagram — True, by now medicine has developed significantly. But I have a certain understanding. I cannot overcome it. I do not want to change the destiny given to a person by Allah. I think it is better for everything to happen in a natural process. You grew up from childhood, you built a family, and I am a supporter of everything proceeding naturally in this order. Having a child with the help of medicine can also be good. But the heart always wants peace of mind. I didn't choose this path thinking about how the future destiny of a child born through IVF would turn out, and that their life processes might differ from ordinary people, he says.
### "I had turned into a person without a purpose"
Problems in his personal life also affected the actor's career. There were even rumors that he had succumbed to bad habits and fallen into depression.
— It turns out there are such times in a man's life. For a certain period, I gave in to bad habits. Even when you say "I don't pay attention to rumors," it still weighs heavily on your heart. The test results for both Renata and me were positive. We just didn't match each other. But people misinterpreted this. Therefore, for a while, I gave in to bad habits and turned into a person without a purpose. After my divorce, I went many years without marrying. It turns out that when you live as a bachelor, you lose self-control. Fortunately, my mother was there to say, "My son, you are changing, you are going astray, where were you yesterday?" If they don't keep you in check, for example, you might "bloom" away, going to a foreign country one day, and to the mountains the next. In those years, you only came home to sleep and change your clothes, Umid Iskandarov said.
### "I have married for the second time"
After 8 years of loneliness, Umid Iskandarov built a family for the second time in 2023 and became a father for the first time in 2025, at the age of 43.
— Now I have a child. Today, I am one of the happiest people. In my experience, there were also difficult days spent due to childlessness. In the beginning, we spent two or three years saying "it will happen." Starting from the fifth year, we began to look at it as a problem. Because by then, our behavior also changed, and everything began to sound different. This, in turn, caused misunderstandings between us. As a result, as husband and wife, we argued a lot with each other. Even when we acted wisely without arguing, we still took offense at each other. Since a woman is delicate, she sits and cries at night because of the rumors around. On top of that, there is also such a thing as destiny, the actor added.
On the occasion of becoming a father for the first time, the actor held a "beshik to'yi" (cradle ceremony) for his son in June 2025.
### "I thank my current wife's parents"
— Love is a real thing. Indeed, I love and respect my current family very much. My wife is a person who values her family and gifted me a child. I thank her parents for giving her a beautiful upbringing.
### "Being a father is the ultimate happiness"
— Once you have a family, when you come home from work and your child runs out to meet you, and when they call you "dada" (daddy) while you are at work during the day, it is happiness. Neither a trip abroad, nor a luxury house, nor a car can give this happiness. A single smile from my son means the whole world and life to me. Let me not have a luxurious house in some place, let me live my whole life at this level, I agree to all of it, says Umid Iskandarov.
### "Raising a child beautifully is also an important issue"
— While waiting for a child to be born is one process, raising them beautifully is also a responsible task. Because in life, we have also seen those who, instead of being a child, became a "calamity" (trouble).
A child's proper upbringing also depends on the relationship between the husband and wife. For example, parents respecting each other is very important in this process. An improper relationship will inevitably have a negative impact on the child's upbringing as well, he says.
### "Now women are used to ChatGPT"
— Now many women are used to talking to ChatGPT. For example, my wife asks for advice from artificial intelligence even if there is some change in the child or if I do something wrong. I tell her, "This is not a human, it is artificial intellect, it draws conclusions by studying facts from the information available on the internet, mother of my child." Even the whole world has admitted that it sometimes gives incorrect answers.
In every family, there are misunderstandings, fights, and reconciliations. I look at this as a normal situation. These words of mine are not about taking household matters outside. One day, when my wife was upset with me, she wrote to ChatGPT about our relationship. And the artificial intelligence advised my wife to divorce. I know she won't follow its advice, but even so, I explained to her, "Mother of my child, this is not a human, its words are not always correct," says the actor.
### "I do not regret it in the slightest"
The actor also answered why he is rarely seen in movies.
— Actors and actresses over the age of 40 become rarely seen in creative work. The reason is that at this age, one fits neither the role of a lover nor the role of a parent. Because in Uzbek cinema, to play the role of the main character, one needs to be young and handsome. In short, for such reasons, I am not starring in many films. Also, not as many films are being shot as before. The film "101-reys" was shot over three years. But I do not regret starring in this film in the slightest. A good film was made, worthy of the time spent, says actor Umid Iskandarov.
### "My childhood interest is growing"
Just as every person has a favorite hobby, Umid Iskandarov also has his interests. He is fond of cars.
— Since my childhood, I have been very interested in cars, their structure, and newly released models. In the midst of life's worries, I had forgotten this hobby of mine a bit. But now, that interest of mine is growing again. As soon as I have free time, I enjoy watching shows about cars, says Umid Iskandarov.