Short Biography

• Name: Salah Zulfikar
• Date of Birth: 18 January 1926
• Date of Death: 22 December 1993
• Place of Death: Cairo, Egypt
• Occupation: Actor and film producer
• Years Active: Mid-1950s to early 1990s

Early Life and Education

• Graduated from the Egyptian Police Academy, serving first as an officer and later as an instructor at the academy before moving into the arts.
• He came from a prominent Egyptian family, and his shift from law enforcement to acting was an early, defining turning point in his career.

Entry into the Arts

• Zulfikar turned to cinema in the mid-1950s and quickly drew attention for his talent and screen presence, becoming one of the major stars of the 1960s.
• He was celebrated for moving effortlessly among romance, comedy, and social drama, in addition to memorable roles as a man of the law.

Key Works

• Feature films:
• My Wife, the General Manager (1966) — Merati Mudir 'Aam; a social comedy about workplace dynamics and gender roles.
• Dearer Than My Life (1965) — Aghla Min Hayati; a classic romantic melodrama.
• My Wife’s Dignity (1967) — Karamat Zawjati; blends marital drama with light comedy.
• Wakeful Eyes (1956) — 'Uyoun Saharana; an early romantic thriller.

• The Terrorist — al-Irhabi; title widely known in Egyptian cinema. Note: the most famous film with this title was released in 1994, after Zulfikar’s death.

• Television:

• The Shalash Family (1990) — 'A'ilat Shalash; a popular family series known for its warm humor and social observations.

Producing and Work Behind the Camera

• Zulfikar founded a production company bearing his name and produced influential films. Among the most significant is I Want a Solution (1975) — 'Ureed Hallan, a landmark social drama that sparked national debate about Egypt’s Personal Status laws (family law), especially around marriage, divorce, and women’s rights.

• Context in simple terms: Personal Status laws govern family matters in Egypt. The film helped push public conversation toward legal reform, making it culturally and socially impactful beyond the box office.

Artistic Legacy

• Salah Zulfikar is regarded as an icon of Egyptian cinema in the latter half of the 20th century. He combined broad popular appeal with discerning artistic choices, leaving a clear imprint on romantic, comedic, and socially engaged films. As a producer, he also backed works with cultural—and even legislative—impact.