Zaki Fatin Abdel Wahab

Zaki Fatin Abdel Wahab (February 18, 1961 - March 20, 2022) was a prominent figure in the Egyptian film industry, known for both his acting and directing talents. Born to celebrated Egyptian singer Laila Mourad and esteemed director Fatin Abdel Wahab, he pursued his passion for cinema by graduating from the Directing Department of the Cairo Higher Institute of Cinema in 1983.

Zaki's career began as a second assistant director on the film People on the Top (1981), and he further honed his skills while working as an assistant director on several of Youssef Chahine's acclaimed films. He made his acting debut in The Sixth Day (1986) and went on to appear in notable works such as Alexandria Again and Forever (1989), I Love Cinema (2004), and Yousry Nasrallah's Mercedes (1993). In 1996, he took a significant step in his career by directing Romantica, a film inspired by his own life experiences.

In addition to his work in Egyptian cinema, Zaki also served as a location manager for international productions filmed in Egypt, including the documentary Mysteries of Egypt (1998) and the blockbuster The Mummy Returns (2001). His personal life included a brief marriage to actress Soad Hosny in 1981, which ended shortly after due to familial opposition. Zaki Fatin Abdel Wahab passed away in 2022, following a courageous battle with lung cancer, leaving behind a rich legacy in film.