Hany Adel’s star is rising in the entertainment business, much to his fans’ joy. Up until now he has managed to keep a perfect balance between his music and acting careers. While his roles and the projects he is offered are multiplying, he still finds time to write new music and perform it. He is now working on a series called El Kabreet El Ahmar with Khairy Beshara where he plays a character unlike anything he has done before. We had a quick chat with him about his music, acting career, and Social Media.
What are you planning on doing in terms of balancing your music and acting careers?
Music is what made me fall in love with cinema. My ultimate dream was to write movie soundtracks. It started out with short films, then feature films with friends of mine. Then Khairy Beshara asked me to appear in one of his films as a singer and that was the very first time. I was scared at first, but with experience and my friends’ help I managed to do both acting and music and separate the two.
Information is no longer taken from books, it is taken off timelines and newsfeeds and people take others’ personal views as a given although they could be right or wrong
You’ve done some pretty diverse work. Which do you prefer: independent films or major popular series?
Of course I love cinema more, but I also love working with cinema directors on TV series. They take such great care of details and treat the series as if it were a movie.
What has your experience been like with Taht El Saytara and will it affect your choices afterwards?
Definitely, because Taht El Saytara required so much research, much more than anything I’ve done before. I met with many addicts, recovered addicts and sponsors. I also received a lot of help from Mr. Tamer Mohsen and Mariam Na’oum. Other than the fact that it helped me with the series, I realized that if people applied the Blue Book’s steps to their lives, they would be perfect.
Have you ever been addicted to anything?
I’m addicted to mangoes (laughs). I love it so much and used to eat it a lot. Sometimes you can also get addicted to a certain person in your life.
I realized that if people applied the Blue Book’s steps to their lives, they would be perfect
Do you think people these days are addicted to Social Media?
Definitely. Information is no longer taken from books, it is taken off timelines and newsfeeds and people take others’ personal views as a given although they could be right or wrong. People should take their own experience, not others’.
In the Middle East we don’t have the paparazzi culture (although it’s growing), but we do get a lot of rumors. How do you deal with that?
I sometimes deal with it jokingly. Someone wrote that I’m sick and they only got that from a picture that I took with nurses in a clinic – to which I had gone earlier because I had a stomach ache – and all of a sudden everyone was talking about how I am ill. My only problem is with the journalist; why is that piece of news important? The only thing that should matter is the art I’m providing. Plenty of journalists don’t check their sources. I’d like people to know that not everything they read aren’t true; what should matter to them is the art this person is offering.
You’re still loyal to your crowd and still perform in CJC even now that you’re a star. Have you ever considered changing that?
I also perform in bigger venues, but to me Cairo Jazz Club is the place where I sing comfortably. Those small places are cozy; you could be talking to your friends while you’re behind the microphone. As West El Balad, we got so used to play the music we love there.
I’m actually working on a musical film project right now
Are you a fan of Social Media? Have you ever considered deactivating your Facebook?
I’ve done it before when I would get too busy to post anything, but then I would reactivate it, because I started my profile in the first place for the band. It’s useful, of course, but as long as you’re not addicted or trying to promote something you don’t believe in.
What does Egypt need in terms of entertainment?
Respect, and for new forms of art to be discovered; we need to step out of our comfort zone. And people need to understand that if something doesn’t fit their taste, it doesn’t mean it’s bad; we need to be more open minded about things.
As someone who can act and sing, have you wondered why Egypt’s share of musicals (on theatre) is very small? And what do you think should be done about this?
I’m actually working on a musical film project right now where all the Egyptian Independent bands, actors, dancers, singers and musicians will be involved. As for theatre, musicals do exist. They just don’t get enough advertisement. And this is why Facebook is important, because by word of mouth, people can tell others about these projects.
