The young Egyptian comedy star Mohammed Henaidi’s latest film Saheb Sahbo (friend of his friend) by director Said Hamed is due to be screened by the end of next July. Costarring in the film is young comedian Ashraf Abdel Baqi in his debut with Henaidi.
“The film tackles the topic friendship and its importance through the story of two friends who were raised together. Each one of them seeks to prove his friendship to the other on his own way. I hope the film will achieve big success like my previous films,” Henaidi told the daily al Hayat.
About the gross revenues generated from his previous films, Henaidi said, “what I achieved was with the help of God and my audience. The film “Saidi at the American University” generated 27 million pounds while the film “Hammam in Amsterdam” generated 24 millions. The film “Baliyyah and His High Mentality” generated 16 millions and the film “We Have Received the Following Communiqué” generated 21 millions.”
However, the comedy star prefers not to talk about the revenues and millions he generates, “so that people won’t say that I am interested only in figures at the expense of content. I am very much keen on the content as evidenced by the success of my films the content of which pleased millions of people and aroused their interests. Naturally, success is a big responsibility and therefore I scrutinize the scripts I select,” added Henaidi.
Commenting on the reports that he had become the most expensive comedy star in the Arab World, Henaidi said, “I don’t know how much stars are paid in the Arab World. In general I hope to be the most expensive star in the hearts of my audience as this is more important to me than money.”
Henaidi sees there is no cinema crisis as was the case few years ago when the contractors’ films were dominating. “Currently production is immense and the films are of high quality and pure picture and sound. This is in addition to the fact that the Egyptian films generate millions of pounds. There is also a complete generation of filmmakers and cinema has an important economic orientation,” added Henaidi -- Albawaba.com
