The late Egyptian artist Samir Ghanem successfully formed an artistic duo with actress Lobna, achieving a level of harmony that led to significant cinematic success, attracting many fans and strengthening their close friendship. Lobna recounted her memories of her first meeting with the late artist to "Sky News Arabia," describing how he supported her personally and artistically, as well as her thoughts on their artistic partnership and his behavior behind the cameras.
Lobna explained that their first film together was "424," which was a major success, leading them to collaborate on several other notable films such as "Some Don't Go to the Maazoun Twice," "The Musician in Danger," and "Adventurers Around the World," along with many other works that were well-received by audiences.
She continued, "I formed an artistic duo with Mr. Samir Ghanem that the audience loved. This love stemmed from the harmony and 'artistic chemistry' between us during our work together. He was very delightful behind the cameras, just as he was joyful for his audience in front of the cameras. Despite being a comedian, in reality, he wasn’t always funny."
Lobna emphasized that Ghanem was a multifaceted artist who even sang alongside her in "The Coffee Reader" and was skilled at dancing. "With his passing, we lost a great artistic figure that will never be replicated," she added.
She further described how watching him made her forget all her worries, noting that whenever they felt exhausted from the pressures of work, his light-heartedness would brighten the mood with a word or a joke that made them laugh and forget their fatigue.
Lobna shared that Samir was more than just a work colleague; he was a brother, friend, and close companion. "Whenever I felt distressed or upset about anything, I would go to him with my worries and problems for comfort. Even in his final days, he made sure to stay in touch with me and inquire about my well-being."
When asked about the backdrop of her first encounter with Samir, Lobna mentioned that she got to know him through the concerts of the beloved artist Abdel Halim Hafez, as he would perform alongside the "City Lights Trio," which is where their friendship began because she performed right after them.
She recounted, "When I first sat with him, I felt like I'd known him for ages. There was no sense that it was our first meeting; he is a simple person, very close to the heart, and a great comedian with a charming demeanor."
Lobna pointed out that whenever she had a new artistic project, she would call him to seek his opinion, especially if the role did not appeal to her. He encouraged her to decline roles that wouldn’t add value to her career, fondly remembering his advice: "Beware, Nouni, don’t do mediocre work; you will only find success in what you love."
She continued, "Samir Ghanem was the person who understood me best and knew what was happening inside my mind. He never wanted to see me sad, and when he sensed my sadness, he would do everything he could to make me laugh and cheer me up, helping me forget all my worries."
Reflecting on an unforgettable moment shared with Samir, Lobna commented that there were many memorable instances, particularly when she lost her mother. He stood by her during her grief, calling her daily to check on her health and whether she had eaten. To lift her spirits, he would say, "Eat, Nouni, because when you lose weight, you don't look great.” Despite the tragedy she was going through, she never got angry at his jokes, knowing they came from a place of love and concern for her well-being.
Lobna expressed her great love for the late artist's daughters, Dunia and Emy, emphasizing that they are talented and have achieved great success and are the children of "Samir and Dalal." "I hope God protects them and helps them through this difficult test, and I pray for the well-being of artist Dalal Abdel Aziz, blessing her life for her daughters and all her fans. I will always stand by them until my last day due to the long friendship and great love that binds us."
