Ahmed Rateb Shines as Mohamed El-Qasabgi in 1999 Netizens Describe Tamer Nabil’s Choice in "El-Sett" as “Unsuccessful”

Despite many years since his passing, Egyptian actor Ahmed Rateb recently topped trending topics after social media users highlighted his iconic role in the 1999 series "Om Kalthoum".

Fans shared photos and clips of Rateb portraying the renowned musician Mohamed El-Qasabgi, the creator of the legendary singer’s success, and many compared Rateb’s exceptional performance to what some described as the “unsuccessful” portrayal by actor Tamer Nabil of the same character in the controversial film "El-Sett".

The series is currently being re-broadcast on "Nile Drama", allowing viewers to relive the charm of the real-life characters who surrounded Om Kalthoum and contributed to building her legend. Rateb’s portrayal of El-Qasabgi impressed audiences with remarkable facial expressions, voice tone, and emotions.

The late actor brilliantly depicted the psychological conflict between El-Qasabgi’s desire to support and mentor Om Kalthoum professionally and his romantic feelings for her, feeling protective and jealous of anyone approaching her. Adel Imam previously praised Rateb’s standout performance, admitting he never expected the character to be brought to life with such precision and brilliance.

"Om Kalthoum" stars Saberin, Hassan Hosny, Ahmed Rateb, Kamal Abouria, Samira Abdel Aziz, Abdel Aziz Makhyoun, written by Mahfouz Abdel Rahman and directed by In’am Mohamed Ali. The series is considered one of the most prominent dramas documenting Om Kalthoum’s artistic and personal life, while vividly recreating the cultural, political, and social atmosphere of Cairo in the first half of the 20th century.