Born in Tajikistan during the Soviet Union period, Bakhtyar Khudojnazarov worked for Tadjikfilm Studios, TV and radio, as a journalist or assistant director, from 1982 to 1984. He then studied at the Moscow Film Institute (VGIK), in Igor Talankin's class, where he directed two short films ("Shutniki" aka "Jokers" in 1986, "Verish Nje Verish" aka "...