Salma Hayek will not be starring in Al’a Walliedine’s Egyptian film Gharam Fil Kazouza (Love Unrequited). In fact, the actress hasn’t even heard of the film, reported Al Jumhuriah newspaper.
That was only one of the various revelations made by Walliedine in his lawsuit against the film’s producer Majdi Al Huwari.
Walliedine, who has filed suit against Huwari in the Egyptian courts states that the producer lied, cheated and committed blatant forgery on the contract signed for the film.
In his turn, Huwari, who has filed a complaint against the actor at the Egyptian Actor’s Union, says that Walliedine should pay him a total of 10 million Egyptian pounds as stipulated by the penalty clause of the contract.
It all started when Walliedine demanded that his friend Sharif Arafa be appointed as the director of the film.
Following is the result of a detailed investigation into the matter by the Egyptian daily, Al Jumhuriah.
According to: *Majdi Al Huwari: “I am one of the first people to bet on Al’a for a full starring role in the film Aboud Ala Al Hudood (Aboud On The Border), after which Al’a starred in the film Al Nather (The Dean). It was only after that movie that Al’a came to me with Kazouza and we made an agreement on the film and took a part of its 1.5 million Egyptian pound budget. However, Al’a asked that Sharif Arafa be the director of the film although he knew of the problems between the director and myself. Despite these problems, I tried to fix my disagreements with Arafa but Sharif refused, and so I nominated another director, which is my right as a producer.
I was completely surprised by the hostile reaction of Al’a, who actually agreed with Sharif to both produce and direct the production. It became so bad that Al’a actually refused to come to the designated shooting days although I sent him a work order. Next thing I know, I find out that the actor has filed a suit against me. I did not react in the same way. I took the more dignified and lawful way through the union so that it can give me back my rights and cover my losses.
I would like to say to Al’a: Get back to your sanity and get away from bad people, because it is not in their interest that you become a star and don’t forget that I was the first to give you a chance.
*Al’a Walliedine: I did not know anything about the film, and I did not agree with him about shooting. In fact, he actually forged the contract and this is why I went back to the Justice Department asking that the contract be nullified.
He actually has added extra parts to the contact, including sections on the title of the film, its shooting schedule and finances. It is sad that I trusted Majdi a lot and this is why I signed a white contract with him. The biggest proof of what I say is that Majdi has not, as he claimed he had, made the phone call to Salma Hayek and she does not know anything about this movie. In fact, she has never heard of it. This makes it obvious that all he wanted is to make a little bang for himself. I have many truths but I will not reveal them now, not until the judicial system has its say on the matter. – Albawaba.com.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
