According to the Saudi daily Al Riyadh, Egyptian actress Laila Elwi apologized for turning down the leading role in the new television drama series “Lailat Al Ro’ya” (Vision Night), scheduled to be aired during the holy month of Ramadan.
Elwi turned down the offer after meeting with Egyptian director Rabab Hussein a number of times over the last three months. Elwi asked for 5 million Egyptian Pounds for her role, which would have made Elwi the highest paid actor to star in a drama series.
Egyptian actor Yehya Al Fakharani was paid 4 million Egyptian pounds for his role in the drama series “Yetraba Fe Izo” (Raised In His Wealth), aired on various Arab satellite channels last Ramadan season.
Elwi’s decision came as a shock to director Hussein, because he said that the role was created for Elwi and no one can replace her.
Elwi was supposed to pay the role of ‘Amirah,’ a middle-class young woman who never finished high school, yet makes her way to college. Amirah becomes divided between her previous life and her current one. The series has a romantic twist.
