Salah Zulfikar

Salah Zulfikar
صلاح ذو الفقار
Salah Zulfikar c. 1970
Born	Salah El Din Ahmed Mourad Zulfikar (1926-01-18)18 January 1926 El Mahalla El Kubra, Egypt
Died	22 December 1993(1993-12-22) (aged 67) Cairo, Egypt
Nationality	Egyptian
Alma mater	Police Academy
Occupation	Actor • Film Producer
Years active	1956–1993
Notable work	Filmography
Spouse(s)	Nafisa Bahgat ​ ​ (m. 1947; died 1988)​ Zahrat El-Ola ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1959)​ Shadia ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1970)​ Bahiga Mekbel ​ ​ (m. 1976; death 1993)​
Children	Ahmed Zulfikar Mona Zulfikar
Military career
Allegiance	Egypt
Service/branch	Egyptian National Police
Years of service	1946–1957
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/wars	Battle of Ismailia Suez War
Awards	Military Medal of Duty of First Class

Salah Zulfikar, (18 January 1926^[1] – 22 December 1993) was an Egyptian actor and producer.^{[2] [3]} He started his career as a police officer in the Egyptian National Police, before becoming an actor^[4] in 1956. In Egyptian Cinema, he is regarded as one of the greatest actors and producers of all time.^[5][6][7]

Early life[]

Salah El Din Ahmed Mourad Zulfikar was born on 18 January 1926 in El Mahalla El Kubra, Egypt. His father, Ahmed Mourad Bey Zulfikar, served as a senior police commissioner in Ministry of Interior and his mother Nabila hanem Zulfikar was of a French descent. Zulfikar was the seventh of eight brothers and sisters. His eldest brother, Mohamed, was a business man, two elder sisters Soad and Fekreya. The movie actor and director Mahmoud Zulfikar, graduated as an architect. His brother Ezz-El-Din Zulfikar, also a movie director, and Kamal Zulfikar were military officers whilst Zulfikar chose to join the Police Academy; he graduated from the Police Academy in 1946. His younger brother Mamdouh joined the Faculty of Commerce.

Zulfikar excelled in his studies and was an athlete. He was one of Egypt's champions in boxing and won the King's Cup in boxing (featherweight) in 1947. He initially joined the Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, to please his father, who wished Zulfikar to become a doctor like his grandfather. After that, he transferred his admission to the Police Academy. He graduated in 1946. Salah Zulfikar was appointed in the Menoufia Security Directorate and in the Prisons Authority, specifically Egypt Prison, and also worked as a teacher at the Police Academy.

Police career[]

In 1949, Zulfikar started teaching at the Police Academy. In 1952 he volunteered to join the police unit in Ismaïlia which was under attack by the British Army. The Egyptian police force refused to hand over their weapons to the British forces, which led the British army to bring in tanks to capture the building. The Egyptian forces fought with bravery and courage. This battle was later commemorated and is now celebrated in Egypt on 25th of January of every year as National Police Day. Zulfikar received a National Award of Honor for his bravery.

Salah Zulfikar between his students in Police Academy, Cairo c. 1956

In 1956 Suez war, Zulfikar took the initiative leading 19 of his students in the Police Academy and volunteered as commandos resisting the tripartite attack by the British, French and Israeli armies. Zulfikar also received the Military Medal of Duty of First Class from President Gamal Abdel Nasser for risking his life for his country with bravery and honor.^[8][9]

Film career[]

Salah Zulfikar’s brothers Ezz-el-Din Zulfikar and Mahmoud Zulfikar were famous film directors. During his free time he used to attend film shooting. In 1955 Ezz-el-Din Zulfikar, his elder brother, offered him the lead role in a film “” (Uyoun Sahrana). Zulfikar had to get a temporary permit from the Minister of the Interior, which was headed at that time by Zakaria Mohieddin to work in this film. He made his second and third films Back Again (Rodda Qalbi) and Jamila, the Algerian respectively also with temporary permissions.

Salah Zulfikar in The Killers (1971)

After Zulfikar’s success, he had to choose his career path. He asked the minister for resignation but due to his impressive career, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and granted an early pension.^[10]

1950s[]

Salah Zulfikar’s second movie Back Again (Rodda Qalbi) of 1957 was his first success. After starring as Azzam in Jamila, the Algerian (Gameela) (1958), film scripts started falling like rain.

In 1959, Salah Zulfikar starred in 5 movies including the action movie "" (Elragol Elthani), the romance, "Divine Love" (Hob hatta El Ebada) with Taheyya kariokka and “Light of the Night” (Nour El Leil) with Mariam Fakhr Eddine. All were great opportunities for Zulfikar to build a career.

1960s[]

Zulfikar accomplished great success with a selection of diversified roles, he starred in Hassan Al Imam's Fortune and Females or (Mal Wa Nesaa) (1960) and "Meeting at the Tower (Maww'ed Fil-borg) in 1962, both with Soad Hosny co-starring. Not to mention, his 1961 film, “This is Love” (El Hob Keda) with Sabah and “A Date with the Past” (Maw’ed Maa El Maady) with Mariam Fakhr Eddine. Then his 1963 wonderful role in Saladin (El Nasser Saladin) of Youssef Shahine, starring as "Issa El Awam". The following year, he played Doctor Hamooda in Soft hands or (El Aydy el Naema) in 1964. The film was a participant in 14th Berlin International Film Festival in 1964.^[11]

In the same year he played a role of an Egyptian police officer in the Italian film, Secret of the Sphinx (La sfinge sorride prima di morire - Stop Londra). The romantic drama Dearer than my Life (Aghla Min Hayati) was a huge success and earned him state award for best actor. The romantic comedies My Wife, the Director General (Mirati Moudir Aam), "My Wife's Dignity" (Karamet Zawgati) and My Wife’s Goblin (Afreet Mirati) with the actress Shadia, made him huge popularity in Egypt at the time. His famous film Good Morning, Dear Wife (Sabah El Kher ya Zawgaty El Azeeza) in 1969 was a box office success, which encouraged Zulfikar to give an opportunity for a new generation of actresses co-starring in his next films like Nelly, Mervat Amin and Naglaa Fathy.

1970s[]

Zulfikar started this decade starring in the huge blockbuster with Soad Hosny as “Amin Akef” in (Ghroob wa Shrooq) of Kamal El Sheikh in 1970. The same year, “Eye of Life” (Ein El Hayah) and ”Faceless Men” (Regal bila Malameh) with actress Nadia Lutfi co-starring. He starred in "Paris and Love" (Paris wal Hob) with Sabah in 1971.

Zulfikar had a turning point starring a villain role in the crime thriller The Killers (El Qatala) making good numbers in the box office in 1971. He starred with Faten Hamama in a short film named “Witch” or (Sahera) in 1971, Zulfikar met again with Soad Hosny in One day, the Nile (Al Nas Wal Nil) directed by Youssef Chahine in 1972.

In 1973 and as a producer, Zulfikar achieved box office success in his production “The Other Man” (Al Ragol Al Akhar) in which he also starred, and Kamal El-Shennawi co-starring. He co-starred in the Mexican short film “Nefertiti and Akhenaton” (Spanish: Nefertiti y Aquentos) (1973) of Raul Araiza with Geraldine Chaplin playing the role of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti and Zulfikar playing the role of his fellow Egyptian King Horemheb. Zulfikar played a character of a man suffering from insomnia in “2-1-0” or (Etnein Wahed Sefr) (1974). Not to mention, “In Summer We must Love” or (Fel Saef Lazem Neheb) (1974) and in the same year “Dunya” (Dunya). Another villain was “Hafez” in the All-star big production film, The Guilty (Al Mothneboon) in 1975. Zulfikar played the character of a police detective in “Desire and Price” or (Al Raghba Wal Thaman) in (1978) with Shoukry Sarhan and Nahed Sherief and in the next year, Surprisingly, he played a character of an angel in “Sin of an Angel" (Khateeat Malak).

1980s[]

Similarly, his films and TV series were popular and successful during the eighties and early nineties, including his film “Secret Visit” (Zeyara Serreya) in 1981, playing a judge.

A different phase in his career in his fifties. Zulfikar starred The Peacock (El Tawoos) in 1982 earning him state’s award for best actor for his role in the film. Also his wonderful role in Youssef Chahine’s adieu Bonaparte (Wadaan bounapart) in 1985 playing “Cheikh Hassouna” was a critical success.  

Zulfikar started a new stage of artistic maturity in his cinematic career, at the end of his fifties, he began searching for novels of the great writers of Egypt and spent almost 3 years away from films from 1982 to 1985 and indeed he found what he was looking for. Zulfikar started with Naguib Mahfouz novel’s adaptation “Please and Your Kindness” (Min Fadlak Wa Ihsanak) in 1986 with Huda Sultan co-starring. Then, his 1988 film “Sorry for Bothering” or (Asef Lel Ezaag) which was Anis Mansour story’s adaptation. Zulfikar also starred in the famous black comedy, Monsieur le Directeur (Elosta el-Moudir) in 1988.^[12]

1990s[]

"” (A’elat El Ostath Shalash) TV series in 1990 with the famous actress, Laila Taher was a huge success. In 1992, Salah Zulfikar starred in “Anything but my Daughter” (Ela Ibnaty) written by Ihsan Abdel Quddus, and “Minister in Plaster” or (Wazir fel Gebs) based on Fathy Ghanem’s story in 1993.

Zulfikar’s final movie roles were in “Road to Eilat" (El Tareek ela Eilat) and "Five Stars Thieves" (Losoos Khamas Nogoom) and The Terrorist (Al Irhabi), which were all released posthumously in 1994.

Death[]

Salah Zulfikar died of a sudden heart attack on Wednesday, 22 December 1993, at the Police Hospital in Cairo, Egypt.

Film Production[]

Salah Zulfikar began his film production career with partnership with his elder brother Ezz El-Din Zulficar and worked as an executive producer in Among the Ruins (Bain Al Atlal) (1959) which was chosen as one of the best 100 films in the centenary of Egyptian cinema.

Zulfikar co-produced “The Second Man” (Al Ragol Al Thani) in 1959 and “Angel and Devil” (Malak W Sheitan) in 1960.^[13] The following year, Zulfikar established his own corporation and in 1962 he produced 3 films, including two films in partnership with Ramses Naguib. First film was “I am the fugitive” or (Ana El Hareb) starring Farid Shawqi, “A Letter from an Unknown Woman” (Resala min Imraa Maghoola) starring Lobna Abdel Aziz and Farid Al-Atrash and Struggle of the Heroes (Sir'a Al-Abtal), one of the best 100 films in the centenary of Egyptian cinema. In the same year, he produced and starred in “A Date at the Tower” (Maww'ed Fil-Borg), all of which achieved box office success.^[14] Salah Zulfikar has always been a women rights defender in his films and has produced more than one film, doing justice for Egyptian women, for example, My Wife, the Director General (Mirati Modeer Aam) which did justice to the main female character and allowed her to be a director over men, and it became one of the best 100 films in the centenary of Egyptian cinema.

Salah Zulfikar produced a film named “3 Robbers” or (3 Losoos) in 1966, which tells three stories of three thieves waiting for a ruling from the judge, he starred in a story among them, which was named “The Gold Robber” (Sareq Al Dahab) with Hind Rostom. In 1969, Salah Zulfikar produced a film starring Shadia, A Taste of Fear (Shey min El Khouf) directed by Hussein Kamal, and it caused an uproar in Egypt. The film was banned and President Gamal Abdel Nasser watched the film twice and allowed it to be released in theatres, it achieved huge success and became one of the best 100 films in the centenary of Egyptian cinema.

Zulfikar produced “A Journey of Suffering” (Rihlat Azab) (1972) and was mostly released in theaters of Syria and Lebanon. The following year he was the executive producer of the short film “The Death Song” (Oghneyat El Moot) starring Faten Hamama, which discussed the issue of revenge in Upper Egypt, and in the same year he produced and starred in the “The Other Man” or (Al Ragol Al Akhar).

Salah Zulfikar produced the huge blockbuster, I Want A Solution (Oreed hallan) starring Faten Hamama in 1975 and co-starring Rushdy Abaza. The film was arguing about women rights in divorce. The film achieved box office and critical success and contributed in changing the personal status law in Egypt at the time in favor of women. Zulfikar won the State award for production, and this film also became one of the best 100 films in the centenary of Egyptian cinema.

Selected Awards[]

Salah Zulfikar and President Anwar Sadat in Cairo c. 1976

• National Award of Honor from Egypt, in appreciation of his national role in the Battle of Ismailia in 1952.
• National Award of Honor of first class from President Gamal Abdel Nasser in appreciation of his national role in the battles of the 1956 Suez War in 1957.
• State Award for Best Actor for his role in Soft Hands (Al Aydy Al Naema) in 1964.
• State Award for Best Actor for his role in Dearer than my life (Aghla Min Hatati) in 1965.
• State Award for Best Producer for My Wife, the Director General (Mirati Moudir Aam) in 1966.
• Best Film Award from the Catholic Center Film Festival for My Wife, the Director General (Mirati Moudir Aam) in 1966.
• State Award for Best Producer Award for I Want a Solution (Oridu Hallan) in 1975.
• Certificate of Appreciation from President Anwar El-Sadat on Art Day in 1979.
• State Award for Best Actor for his role in The Peacock (El Tawoos) in 1982.

Personal life[]

Zulfikar married four times. He got married to his first wife, Mrs. Nafisa Bahgat daughter of Mahmoud Bey Bahgat in 1947, a socialite, and she bore him his sons Ahmed and Mona, and she remained his wife until her death in 1988. His son Ahmed graduated as a mechanical engineer to become a businessman owning his own corporation and his daughter Mona graduated as a lawyer and became a prominent lawyer owning a law firm. Zulfikar had 3 grandchildren, Karim, Salah and Ingy.

Besides boxing, Salah Zulfikar was an enthusiastic football fan and loved the game. He used to play football with fellow actors from time to time. Zulfikar was a famous Zamalek S.C fan.

Salah Zulfikar and Farid Al-Atrash watching a Zamalek football match, Cairo c. 1961

Zulfikar's second marriage was to actress Zahrat El-Ola in 1957, and it was a marriage that lasted less than 2 years and ended in divorce. The love story that brought him together with the singer and actress Shadia was the most famous of all, and they married in 1964 while filming Dearer than my Life (Aghla Min Hayati).

Zulfikar with third wife Shadia (left) at a film event, Cairo in 1969

Together, Zulfikar and Shadia formed an artistic duo through which they presented many successful films in Egyptian Cinema. Zulfikar produced more than one film starring Shadia like My Wife, the Director General and A Taste of Fear (Shae Men El Khof) in 1969. Their marriage ended in divorce after 7 years. Then he married his last wife, Bahiga, and their marriage continued until his death.

Filmography[]

Prolific in Egyptian film industry for 37 years. Salah Zulfikar was a film and stage actor and producer. He produced 13 films & appeared in more than 130 films from 1956 to 1993. Many of which were either starring or co-starring roles with the most notable Egyptian actresses in Egyptian Cinema’s golden age.

Salah Zulfikar played all kind of roles and excelled in them, and his performance did not lack comedy.

See Also[]

• Cinema of Egypt
• List of Egyptian films

References[]