The talent of the artist was not immediately noticed.
The star of “Mimino” and “Prisoner of the Caucasus” Frunzik Mkrtchyan entered state institutions without a passport, because “a big nose and a cap” were his documents. All-Union glory, fees and admirers: his phrases from the shooting, which always ended up in the final version of the film, were spoken both on the streets and in the high offices of party leaders. But it was not always so.
The first stage appearance of a teenager from Leninakan was a failure: they laughed in the audience because of his big nose. Even then, the future actor realized that not everyone was given to make laugh, but he obviously has such a gift. Frunzik made his film debut at the age of 25. It was a small episode (“In Search of the Addressee”). A year later, the artist appeared with director Artashes Ai-Artyan in the film regarding the intrigues of the oilman “Because of Honor”, where Vardan was given more screen time.
In a freeze frame from this film, an incredibly charming, smiling man with huge eyes is looking at the audience. Young Mkrtchyan already then possessed all the qualities for which the Armenians would call him Mher, which means “sun” in translation.