Artist Nidal Al-Shafei (photos from the artist’s account on “Instagram”)
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He assured Al-Arabiya.net that he is a diverse artist and cannot be confined to one dramatic framework, and he hopes to return to comedy again.
A state of artistic activity that he has been living since the beginning of 2023, although agreements have begun since last year, between drama and cinema, although the dominant drama is now with the approach of its first season, which is the month of Ramadan, in which competitions between stars intensify everywhere in the Arab world. He participates in an important and different role for him in a series that restores Egypt to the map of historical works, and even participates in social work as well, in addition to cinematic works that are postponed until the completion of these drama works, this is what the artist Nidal Al-Shafei explained in his interview with Al-Arabiya.net.
* Participate in the series “Imam Al-Shafi’i” and this is the first time that you present this type of work?
** This is true, because I am very happy for my participation in presenting the biography of Imam Al-Shafi’i, and my greatest happiness is that we will not deal with it from a religious perspective, but we will present a historical series, explaining the period in which he visited Egypt with all the scientific and historical honesty that was present in this period, and I embody through this work The role of one of the leaders present in the period of Imam Al-Shafi’i, one of the most famous scholars of jurisprudence and interpretation, and he is the third of the four imams among the Sunnis and the community, and it is a new character that I have not presented before, as the series presents important messages, and therefore participation in it is a great opportunity and a shift in my artistic career.
Artist Nidal
* Do you think that this is the right time (Ramadan season) to present this work?
** Certainly, the work is an artistic value needed by the current generations. We are discussing this period historically, as there are many conflicts between the leaders and some of them in one way or another, and the series is like Egypt’s return to historical works, which is a great achievement and came at an appropriate time. After this period, we present a historical work. In this way, this is Ahmed’s return to Egypt after this period of absence from historical works, and this is what Egypt deserves artistically and historically at all levels.
Is your work completely different from everything you did before?
** Indeed, work is a different experience for me because the character that I embody within the events provoked me and excited me greatly about it. The series impressed me when I saw the paper for the first time because the series deals with one of the most important imams, and the work team makes a great effort to bring out the series’ events in the best way at the time of its presentation. For example, I prepare for the character two hours before filming for the character’s clothes only. I wear a suit made of zebrafish, which is iron and weighs no less than ten kilograms. When I wear the character’s clothes, I fully impersonate the character, which is really fun, and the work consists of 15 episodes. It is a historical epic, and it is the type of biographical drama that has been absent for years. The work tells the life of Imam Al-Shafi’i, who is embodied by the artist Khaled Al-Nabawi.
* What about the series “Hidden Spirits” and your participation in it?
** A different series, through which I present the character of Dr. Khairy, who lost his daughter and is on a journey searching for her during the events of the series, in which I cooperate with the artist Sumaya al-Khashab, who embodies the school character Lara, who accompanies a group of students to a camp, and events escalate there, especially inside the abandoned building adjacent to a place The journey and we discover with time that there is a secret related to the school in which Lara works and the group of students regarding spirits and seeing the future.
Behind the scenes of Street 9 series
* Recently, the story of “Roulette” was presented to you in a series, every week a story, and it was a great success?
** Indeed, he achieved great success that I did not imagine, and I am very happy with the great interaction he achieved from the audience, whether through social networking sites or the audience’s opinion on the street, as it is the true compass for success, and I did not expect that great success that exceeded my expectations, and the truth is that this is an effort of all The elements, whether in front of or behind the camera, starting with the director of the work, Moataz Hossam, and the author of the series, and I also participate with the artist Naglaa Badr in understanding and assimilating the role through full coexistence with the character and dealing professionally.
What motivated you to submit this work?
** Presenting the details of the human relationship between the spouses, as it is the most important for the success of the marriage, and to be honest, the scenario highlighted the need for clarity and frankness between the two parties, even if the matter is simple or easy because it multiplies with time as if it is a prescription for couples to overcome problems and reach a calm and stable life, in addition The artist’s human side and the audience’s viewing of part of their life behind the camera and their suffering from some problems.
* What works or characters would you like to present?
** I wish to present a comic work very much, because I have no objection to returning again to present comic works, but I did not find a suitable work that carries the same energy as the comedy that I presented previously, but the problem is that the comic in writing does not have the same energy that I presented before, As for the characters that I wish to present, they are the heroic files in the form of Raafat Al-Hagan, Juma Al-Shawan, and others, in addition to my wish to present the role of Oqba Ibn Nafeh.
* But during the last period you tried to stay away from comedy with your desire?
** I wanted to present many other styles away from them, because in the end I am a diverse artist and cannot be limited to one dramatic framework.
What is new to you in the world of cinema?
** I am currently preparing for the movie “9 Milli” with director Morcos Adel, and there is another movie in partnership with a global star, and I contacted his manager, in addition to that I started filming the movie “July 13”, but it stopped now because we were busy filming Ramadan works, but it worked. Distinguished in everything, the idea is new and strange, and the script is well written, and I also cooperate in it with the distinguished director Moataz Hossam, and this is because we are searching together for distinctive works that we can present together, and in the film I embody the character “Mamoun”, which is a character A villain who seeks to destroy an entire family, and the work co-stars Nancy Salah, Hajjaj Abdel-Azim, and the able Hala Fakher.
