Stars turn to charity
Lebanese singer Ramy Ayach has announced that he is working to start an NGO that will take care of children with cancer. The NGO will begin its work in mid 2010.Meanwhile Lebanese star Haifa Wehbe recently visited a hospital in Cairo for children with cancer. Wehbe spent time with the little ones, sang to them and distributed gifts. The star also donated an undisclosed amount of money to the hospital.Lebanese star Assi Hallani was invited to sing during an event prepared by a Lebanese-Egyptian NGO, aiming to raise money for a hospital specialising in treating sick children in Cairo. Hallani refused to take money for the performance in the Egyptian capital.
Ahmad Sharif plans to wed
Tunisian singer Ahmad Sharif has announced that he will get married in 2010. The young artist plans to settle down with his long-time girlfriend Emane. "Things are going as I planned. I wanted to start my career before getting married and now I think that I am really able to build a family," he explained.
Sharif, who has chosen to live in Lebanon, spent the last few months in Tunisia among his family and friends with his fiancée. The artist explained that he needed time to rest. "This long vacation was good," he said. "It made me really see where I stand professionally and what I should plan for the future."
Hassoun is single
Shaza Hassoun has confessed her relationship status, she is now single following two relationships. "I am not in a relationship right now. I don't have time to go out. I do have a lot of work. I would love to get married some day and to have a family", she added. Iraqi singer Hassoun recently released her music video for her song Waed Arkoub (Just Promises). Shot in Lebanon, the music video is directed by Yehia Sa'adeh and conveys a message of peace, dialogue and tolerance. The song is written by Abdullah Bou Ras and composed by Nasser Saleh.Hassoun said that last year was not easy on her. She had, among other things, to leave her manager, Lebanese director Tony Kahwaji and to stand alone. "I spent a lot of time watching TV, crying, sleeping and receiving encouragement phone calls from my family", she added.
W for Wassouf
The inauguration of Syrian singer George Wassouf's new restaurant and nightclub called W was held recently.
Over ten years ago, Wassouf owned a similar set-up named after him in the coastal Lebanese city of Jounieh. The place closed for no obvious reason. The star decided to reopen both the restaurant and nightclub under a new name, "W" for Wassouf.
Last week Wassouf finished recording the title of a Syrian TV programme Ma Malakat Aymanakom directed by Najdat Anzour. The song is written by Yousuf Sleiman, composed by Haytham Ziad and arranged by Tony Saba.
Baroud has a new role
Lebanese TV host Tony Baroud was chosen by an American movie crew to play the role of Saladin. Baroud met the movie producers while he was on stage in Jordan hosting a festival organised during the Holy month of Ramadan, last September. "They were in Jordan to research locations for their shooting and they met me by chance", he explained.
"The movie has a message of peace and tolerance between the religions of the world. In the film, Saladin is depicted as a tolerant and wise man, if it wasn't the case I would have never accepted the role", Tony explained.
"I was very surprised when the producers talked to me. I thought in the beginning that they wanted me to recommend someone I knew for the role. Then I understood and I was called for the casting. They liked the tone of my voice. The director contacted me to explain the offer. After that, one of the producers came to Lebanon and I was filmed again, in a tent this time.
"I was wearing a Abaya and I decided also to grow my beard for the role," he said.
The shooting will probably start next May and Tony will go soon to London in order to learn some skills for the role, such as horse riding and sword wielding.
