Maadi started his film career as a Screenwriter in late 2000 with the successful movie Swan Song. He later wrote several renowned Iranian films. He began his acting career in Asghar Farhadi's film About Elly (2009).
Two years later, he received the Silver Bear award for Best Actor in Leading Role at the Berlin International Film Festival for his performance as Nader in Farhadi's A Separation (2011). He was seen in the indie drama Camp X-Ray, which was accepted into the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was released October 17, 2014. Maadi also is appearing in the HBO television series The Night Of. In 2014 he was a jury member at the 17th Shanghai International Film Festival.
