Mohamed Sobhi Affirms His Refusal to Present Any Work That Contradicts the Truth Mohamed Sobhi: "I Blame My Student and My Dear Mona Zaki"

In a sharp and shocking attack, Egyptian actor Mohamed Sobhi criticized the makers of the film "El Set", which depicts the biography of "Kawkab Al-Sharq" Umm Kulthum. He firmly stated that he refuses to participate in any artistic work, no matter how impressive, if it contradicts the truth or distorts historical facts.

During a phone interview on a TV program, Sobhi said: "As an actor, I might be offered a film or a play that is great artistically, but if it contradicts the truth, I cannot present it," emphasizing that honesty is the primary condition for any work that highlights the lives of artistic icons.

A Message of Reproach to Mona Zaki Sobhi directed a personal message of reproach to actress Mona Zaki for accepting to participate in the film, saying: "I blame my student and my dear Mona Zaki, and I am proud of her, for falling into such a trap," highlighting the importance of artists bearing ethical responsibility when portraying history.

Mohamed Sobhi’s Memories with Umm Kulthum Sobhi recalled his memories with Umm Kulthum, noting that he worked in his youth at the ticket office of her concerts and witnessed firsthand the immense respect the public had for her. Responding to rumors about her stinginess, he said: "There is no one more generous than Umm Kulthum," citing a personal experience where he bought a ticket for three pounds, was asked to vacate his seat for a foreign guest, and Umm Kulthum personally intervened, moved him to a better seat, and later gifted him 50 pounds after the concert, saying: "Sing and I will keep an eye on you."

Sobhi stressed that Umm Kulthum is an untouchable artistic figure, warning against reducing icons to shallow or inaccurate narratives that harm the history of Egyptian art.

Refusal to Present Artists’ Private Lives Sobhi announced his stance against presenting artists' private lives on screen, asserting: "I don’t want to see Naguib Al-Rihani with whom he married or lived… What matters to me is his artistic struggle and how he created respectable art," noting that private life is often presented in an exaggerated and false manner.

He concluded: "Honoring icons should be through discussing their creativity and artistic experience, as I did when presenting works that highlight Naguib Al-Rihani’s artistic value without approaching his private life. Art is a responsibility, and autobiographies, if not presented with truth and respect for history, turn from documentation to distortion, and from tribute to offense."