Lebanese actor Carlos Azar stated that he does not refuse to participate in joint Arab dramas; however, he rejects roles that do not satisfy his ambitions or enrich his artistic archive.
In an appearance with journalist Pierre Rabbat on the program "A Ghayr Kawkab," Azar pointed out that his colleague Bady Abou Chakra's comments about the existence of stations that do not want a Lebanese actor as the lead are true and should be acknowledged, while also working on how to resolve this issue. Azar emphasized the need to give opportunities to young Lebanese actors by questioning how a Lebanese actor can shoulder the responsibility of a project and become a Lebanese star if they cannot also be Arab. He posited that since the Lebanese audience is part of the Arab audience, they should be given the appropriate opportunity, and only then should their performance be assessed to make a proper decision regarding granting them lead roles in joint Arab dramas.
He continued, saying, "The people in charge of Syrian drama have done things 'right' for the past 20 years, allowing them to reap the fruits of their labor with government support. In Lebanon, however, there is no one to provide support for the actor, so they have to work harder on themselves. Unfortunately, there are aspects beyond our control regarding production and marketing. There are heroes from certain nationalities in various joint productions, as if Lebanese actors are prohibited from being present, remarking: 'They don't let us attend the market.'"
Azar pointed out that there are many distinguished Lebanese productions that are offered on certain stations but are rejected by others on the grounds that they prefer more joint Arab dramas, reiterating that he does not know the underlying reason for such refusals.
The actor also discussed the conflict that arose between actresses Aida Sabra and Karen Rizkallah, clarifying that Aida was his professor in college and is considered one of the exceptional actresses, while Karen has proven herself to be a high-caliber writer who delves into certain aspects that others cannot touch upon. He noted that he dislikes issues within the artistic community but felt the word "fool" could have been replaced with another term. Karen had the right to be upset over what happened, but no one can deny that the scene was strange… He concluded with: "It's okay, it will pass."
It is worth mentioning that what bothers Carlos Azar most is being accused of arrogance by people who do not know him previously, explaining that he supports the ongoing artistic revolution and does not appreciate low-quality works or dealings with producers who do not respect actors or appreciate their efforts.
