Nikpey's maternal grandfather Zalolsoltan was from Qajar royal family and was the son of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and at one point was set to succeed his father as king, however Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar became king instead of him. Gholamreza spent his childhood in Isfahan and Kermanshah and entered Tehran University to study law. He went to England to continue his studies and obtained his PhD in 1335 A.H. from London school of economics and returned to Iran.