Egyptian actress Layla Elwi has been subjected to a barrage of rumors for the past three years, ranging from the reasons behind her sudden weight gain, to her relationship with fellow mega-star Faruq El Fishawi.
In an interview, conducted by ‘Al Bayan’ newspaper in the UAE, the actress talked about the rumors openly, answering each of them one by one.
“It is not my fault that the newspapers are interested in my personal life more than my professional life. The fact that when my engagement to businessman Akram Al Hajjar failed, my face was on every cover in the area, proves this point,” she explained.
“Because I kept my personal life to myself, the papers decided to fabricate the stories in a way they see fit,” she added, explaining that the real reason behind the broken engagement is “just personal differences.”
“I have closed the page on this part of my life, but I do not deny that when I was first engaged, I thought that I had found the perfect man for me. Akram had a sweetness any girl would thrive on. However, the engagement period is always a test of emotions and I believe that a failed engagement is better than a failed marriage.”
However, the tabloids had another story at the time.
Various Arabic newspapers reported that the actress had broken off the engagement because she had found ‘another perfect mate,’ citing her new love as famous Egyptian actor Faruq El Fishawi.
“I am surprised,” said Elwi, “that such a rumor had spread so far. I do not understand why these people do not run after the truth before publishing such lies.”
“Why would I marry Faruq or anyone else in secret, anyway?!”
However, the actress said that the personal attack was not what bothered her the most.
“What really was ugly, was that at the time of the rumors, I was part of the judicial committee for a Russian film festival. And, instead of focusing on my work there, the newspapers chose to fabricate rumors about my love life.”
“I do not blame all of the magazines and papers,” added Elwi, “and I would like to thank those who strove continuously to find the truth and the reasons behind the lies.”
“All I would like to say about this is that I will marry only in front of my family, in the midst of my life, no running away from people, or anything else, be it my husband an actor or a businessman,” she said.
However, in a recent interview for El Fishawi, conducted by the ART satellite network, the handsome actor said that he and Elwi had in fact had a relationship together, which unfortunately did not reach the marital stage.
Elwi also touched on the sensitive subject of her ever-increasing weight, saying “I do not deny that my weight has jumped up many notches lately, especially that I have a body that is very willing and ready to gain weight fast.”
“But,” she explained, “the picture depicted in my latest film Rajul Lahu Madin [A Man With a Past], is not the true picture of what I look like now. The shooting angles are what contributed to the size I was shown in.”
“Either way,” said the actress, “I have started on a new diet and I am also starting to see the results lately.”
Elwi also commented on the new generation of actors, rising on the film scene lately.
Various magazines have reported that the old generation (i.e. Elwi) will have the carpet slid right from underneath them by this new generation.
“This is not true,” says Elwi, “to just say such a thing implies, that there is some sort of a struggle between the two generations and that is definitely not true. Every generation has its place in cinema. For example, when I, Yusra and Ilham Shahine came about, we did not take the place of Nabila Ebeid and Nadia Al Jundi.”
“In fact,” she added, “every one of us had a role to do, just as the new generation has its roles. There is an age that a movie has to depict and no generation can portray the others’ age.”
Elwi has currently wrapped up the filming of her latest movie Nur Wa Nar, with Al Fishawi, where she plays the role of Sharaqi, a Sai’idi sweet woman who faces the fight between good and evil.
The actress had to go intensive training to achieve the distinctive Sai’idi accent-Albawaba.com.
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