'Karioka' is not disrespectful

Egyptian actress Ragaa al-Geddawy Cairo - Somaia Ibrahim Egyptian actress Ragaa al-Geddawy has revealed in an exclusive interview with Arabstoday that she watched only three episodes of her show “Karioka”, because she had gone for the Umrah pilgrimage in Ramadan. She also denied reports were published in an Arab magazine saying that she was angry at how the series developed. “Wafaa Amer asked for my permission in order to make a show based on my aunt Tahia Karioka’s, and my cousins and I agreed. However, when my other cousins [on my uncle's side] filed a lawsuit against the producer to ask for their financial rights in order to agree, I stopped communicating with the production crew," she said. "The writer, Fathy al-Gendy, was trying to write in a way that honoured Tahia Karioka’s memory, and it was enough that he didn't insult her or exploit her past for commercial purposes,” said the star. She added: “I can blame the writer only for using what was written about her in the media, without knowing small details from their children.s Tahia Karioka’s life is rich as a human and artist while the series recounts her life so quickly, ignoring the small but significant details that impacted her personality and her work.” On Wafaa Amer, she said she was a “hardworking actress" whose work in the series was very good. "My only objection to the show was that Wafaa also payed the role of the 17-year-old Karioko, who worked in the 'Badieaa Masabny' Casino. It would be better if another actress younger than her played that part, as it would have felt more authentic," she said. As for what was said in the series about her multiple marriages, she said “It was right, my aunt refused to have illicit relationships with any man, she was pretty and men coveted her, so she preferred marriage.” She added: “This is not a bad thing on her part; she was also a political campaigner although she was ignorant, and she left belly dancing when she realised it was taboo.”  "I owe a lot to my aunt, Tahia Karioka, who raised me and helped in building my personality. Without her, I wouldn’t be in this world,” she said. Ragaa also said she was happy with the success of her show "Sharbat Louz”, broadcasting this Ramadan, saying that she loved working with Yosra.