Interviews

Nadia Kounda captured our attention in Egypt when she was crowned best actress in the first round of El Gouna Film Festival, little did she know that it will be her golden ticket to joining the Egyptian drama marathon this Ramadan. Given her short yet rich journey that is packed with highly acclaimed projects and with an impeccable talent that scored her international awards and recognitions, there is no doubt that the Moroccan beauty is set and ready to slay the Egyptian screen. (in)sight’s Rania Badr got the chance to catch up with the talented star and this is what she told her…

Fitness influencers are numerous nowadays, but rarely those who shiningly stand out. Muhammed Ali 3asab is a passionate athlete who’s changing lives for the healthier. After launching ‘Balance Gym,’ he managed to extend his business until he founded his outstanding ‘Hers Studios.’ 3asab gives (in)sight’s Dina Fawzy details on how he runs his business, and opens up about his future plans.

Social dramas, action, romance – you name it; Mohamed Farrag has done it all! The diversity of his roles have ranged from the humorous sidekick, to the kind of bad boy we’re all guilty of falling for. Farrag’s roles never fail to impress when it comes to excellent performance and spontaneity, where his charisma and spirit are always prominent. A devoted and skilful artist, the talented Farrag talks to (in)sight’s Rania Badr about his journey in entertainment, contemporary taste in art, and the TV series he’s starring in this Ramadan. 

One of the most admired and recognised actors of his generation, Hesham Selim’s acting journey has begun at a young age and continues to shine at its zenith until today. From dominating the stage in the most popular of theatre productions in his youth, to handpicking anomalous roles in promising TV hits that prove ingenious; Selim’s excellent performance and unique individuality easily capture the hearts of Egyptians. The inspirational actor gives (in)sight’s Rania Badr a sneak peek on his lead and guest starring roles this Ramadan, opens up to us about his absence from films, and drops a little advice on how to help get Egyptian cinema back on its feet.

Her lively spirit and uplifting smile mark her as one of the most anticipated rising stars of our time. She’s a determined artist that refuses to let anything stop her passion for acting; she is Hanady Hany Mehanna. The French-Egyptian musician and actress has made it to the Middle Eastern hall of fame as a young vocalist and actress, stunning us with her siren vocal range and realistic performance. Mehanna talks to (in)sight’s Ingy Osama about how it all began, her favourite roles, and her upcoming plans.

Best known for brilliantly directing the discontinued political satire we all know and love, ‘El Bernameg’ (The Program), Mohamed Khalifa has become an expert of viral artwork, offering out-of-the-box content that transcends any limitations in the entertainment industry, while establishing itself a touchstone of refined taste. Whereas a lot of his works were directed and produced abroad, the talented director talks to (in)sight’s Rania Badr about his journey from day one, and what he hopes for the future of the film and television industry in Egypt.

She has the ability to show us life as we don’t know it by shedding the light on all the struggles and difficulties that face different specimens in our community. A drug addict, a rebellious teenager, a prostitute, a prisoner or even a bloody terrorist; she sees all her characters as normal human beings with stories behind stories; humans who deserve to be loved and sympathised with rather than judged blindly. Mariam’s magical power lies in her ability to capture you into her own world and make you want to be a part of it. This is why she is considered one of the icons of the modern Arab drama. (in)sight’s Rania Badr had a chat with the talented scriptwriter, and this is what she told us…

There is no doubt that El Adl Group is hands down the biggest production company in the movie and drama scene nowadays. For over 25 years, they have managed to produce the finest cinema and TV productions for big stars like Yousra, Mahmoud Abdel Aziz as well as presenting talents like Mai Ezz Eldin, Menna Shalaby, Mohamed Ragab and a lot more. We had a chat with the mastermind behind this media empire, Mr Gamal El Adl, who gave us a sneak peek ot the company’s upcoming projects for this Ramadan, as well as their anticipated big-budget production for the icon Sherihan.

After launching his promising talent management and representation agency, Creative Arab Talent (C.A.T) – which is considered the first of its kind in the Middle East – Amr Koura has come a long way and has exported Arab artists beyond local borders. C.A.T has established itself an internationally acclaimed leading company in its field, and has recently become Netflix’s trusted repertoire of original Arab content. The brilliant entrepreneur with a multifaceted resumé talks to (in)sight’s Rania Badr about how far his agency has come, the Egyptian film market crisis, and his future plans.

Combining contemporary fashion with the traditional elegance of Moroccan culture, Meryem Refaie has become one of the most promising talents in the Middle East’s fashion design scene. The Moroccan icon’s caftan clothing line, ‘Chic Chic Couture’, brings to life a range of modern Moroccan caftans exclusively for those who don’t like to go unnoticed. Meryem meticulously studies every detail about the fashion industry to hone her skills and endlessly surpass the expectations of her customers. The winner of Miss Universe of the World 2016 shares with us her experience in the ‘Le Festival International Art du Caftan’ and her upcoming projects.