Disputes escalate behind the scenes of Ramadan dramas
Behind the scenes of the filming of the series “Immunity”, which is scheduled to be shown during the drama race of the coming month of Ramadan, a severe crisis occurred between the Tunisian star Hend Sabri and the Egyptian artist Maha Nassar, which turned from verbal altercations on the filming location into a public dispute on social media platforms, which prompted the intervention of the Syndicate of Acting Professions to contain the situation.
The beginning of the crisis: Public accusations on Instagram
The story began to unfold for the public when actress Maha Nassar posted on her Instagram account, directly accusing Hend Sabry of overstepping her bounds. In her post, which was later deleted, Nassar wrote: “I could forgive you for your malice, jealousy, and hatred… but to insult me and slander me in front of everyone is something I can never forgive.” Nassar didn't stop there; she followed it with another post demanding that Sabry cease what she called “funded online campaigns” against her and actress Huda El-Etreby, adding a new dimension to the conflict and suggesting the involvement of other parties.
General context: Ramadan season pressures
This crisis comes within the context of the Ramadan drama industry, the largest and most competitive in the Arab world. This season represents the peak of television production, with dozens of shows vying for the attention of viewers and advertisers. This competitive environment places immense pressure on the cast and crew, from actors and directors to technicians, who all work long hours under pressure to deliver episodes on schedule. In this charged atmosphere, disagreements and conflicts behind the scenes are not uncommon, but their spillover into the public sphere via social media reflects a shift in how artists handle their professional disputes.
The actors' union intervenes and attempts to contain the situation
As the crisis escalated in the media, actress Hend Sabry maintained complete silence, ignoring the accusations and continuing her activity on her official social media accounts by posting behind-the-scenes photos from other programs she participates in. Meanwhile, Dr. Ashraf Zaki, head of the Actors' Syndicate, intervened urgently to contain the situation. He contacted actress Maha Nassar and asked her to delete the controversial posts to calm the situation and prevent further escalation. According to press reports, citing the website Masrawy, the production company of the series agreed to modify the remaining scenes featuring the two actresses, so that each would be filmed separately to avoid any new conflict that could disrupt the production, especially since Nassar plays Sabry's sister in the series.
Expected impact on the series and the art scene
This dispute undoubtedly casts a shadow over the series "Immunity" even before its premiere. On the one hand, it could negatively impact the show's promotional campaign, while on the other, it might pique the audience's curiosity to watch the series and observe the on-screen chemistry between the two actresses. This situation also puts director Hussein El-Manbawy, the husband of actress Maha Nassar, in a difficult position. On a broader level, this incident highlights the importance of managing professional relationships within the artistic community and the role of unions in resolving conflicts before they reach an impasse that could damage the reputation of the entire industry.
The cast of the series “Immunity” includes, alongside Hend Sabry and Maha Nassar, a selection of stars including Riad El-Khouly, Mimi Gamal, Ahmed Khaled Saleh, and Khaled Selim. The work is based on a story by Abbas Abu El-Hassan, with screenplay and dialogue by Amr El-Daly.
