Showbiz Arabia

Patricia Khoder brings you all the gossip from the Middle East

The hunt is on

Nicole Saba is busy as a bee juggling her singing and acting career, but she is happy with the way her career is shaping up. The sexy Lebanese artist told tabloid!, "Being a workaholic takes me away from my private life. But someday, all these things are going to change for better."

Saba, who will be playing the role of a mother in her next Egyptian film, plans to settle down and start a family soon. "I dream of a man who stands besides me and encourages me. Everybody gets married at the end."

So what kind of man is she looking for? "I don't want superficial men. I need a man who understands me and loves the person I am and not the famous artist," she said.

The wedding singer

After coming back to Lebanon from Cyprus where she got married, Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram hosted two wedding parties. Ajram invited most of her friends for the party and among them was singer and nightclub owner Joe Achkar, who sang at the wedding party.

One of the richest Lebanese singers, Achkar said, "I started working at the age of 12. And sometimes I couldn't even afford to buy a sandwich. Now, I'm very proud of myself. I am a self-made man."

Achkar plans to open restaurants and nightclubs in Beirut.

Recently, he released a song entitled Rejehtella (Back To Her). He completed the shooting of the music video — a story about a young man who comes back to his village and meets again his old sweet heart — that cost him over $100,000 (Dh367,345).


Rida out of the hospital

Singer Rida, who underwent kidney surgery, has been released after spending several days in the hospital.
Once back on his feet, Rida hopes to resume working on his new album — Nsit Al Nom (I Forgot How To Sleep) — to be released before the end of the year. The album features eight songs in the Lebanese and Egyptian accent. The song Nsit Al Nom is written by Ahmad Chatta and composed by Walid Saad.


Zaher Saleh on my mind

Zaher Saleh, Star Academy Finalist, launched his first music video Ma Ghibti an Bali (Always on My Mind).
Starsystem produced the song and Abdelaziz Issa directed the video — a romantic story where Saleh lives with the memory of an ex-girlfriend and sees her everywhere.