Egyptian actress Summaya Al Khashab announced that her role of Iskeena in the Ramadan television drama series “Raya and Iskeena” was one of the most important of her career.
Summaya noted the numerous rumors that were circulated while filming regarding so-called disputes that had erupted between her and the director. Summaya explained that the director wanted her to gain some weight for her role, and she refused, and she flatly denied the rumor that she had demanded a higher wage and more scenes in the film.
Summaya stressed that she was very satisfied with the wage she was given and felt that the scenes she took part in were enough to make her an important aspect of the drama.
According to the London based daily, Al Sharq Al Awsat, the actor stated that she was not dissuaded by the fact that several other actors had refused the role before her, affirming that her only concern was to be able to portray her character to the best of her ability.
The series tells the tale of two of the most dangerous and ruthless female murderers of the first half of the twentieth century.
Viewers and critics alike waited anxiously for the first episode to be aired in order to compare it with the well-known movie and play. The series was well received by both camps since the story of the drama was an adaptation of the book by novelist Salah Eisa that tells the real life story of the two sisters, including their personal history.
The book reveals details that were not previously known, such as how the two sisters reached the desperate stage of committing heinous crimes, and how the Egyptians of the time could not conceive that two sisters could have the ability to murder innocent women and bury them in their basement, while stealing their money and jewelry.
Audiences were intrigued by graphic details included in the series. For example, one of the sisters "Iskeena" was an alcoholic who resorted to prostitution to purchase liquor.
