Younes Megri reveals all

Younes Megri will star in Breeze Dreams Casablanca - Yousra Mostafa A timeless talent whose music spanned the decades, Younes Megri talks exclusively to Arabstoday about his transition from singing to acting. As Megri makes strides in to the world of TV soap with Breeze Dreams, we asked him about this exciting new phase in his career and find out why he wants to be the bad guy. Arabstoday: Did you have any worries about starting a long term project for television? Younes Megri: Certainly, television programmes are created for quick consumption so it’s totally different from working in cinema. But I was encouraged to do it after reading the script and meeting the director. AT: What was it like working with director Ali Tahiri? Megri: We had worked together on The Game of Love alongside the director Driss Shweikeh, but engaging with Ali in the context of his own work was a new and special experience. AT: What sort of roles do you like to play at the moment? Megri: The bad guy. I like playing a drug baron who is involved in all kinds of corruption because, after succeeded in romantic roles, it’s good for my career and personal development to have a change in the types of characters that I embody. I love playing the role of a revolutionist, one who cherishes freedom and rebellion, because it is close to my true nature. I am the type of person who would break down everything that might hinder and restrict my freedom. AT:  You have played the role of the father as well, for example in Satan’s Angels and The Son Coming Back. Megri: Yes but the themes those films tackled were totally different. My role in The Son Coming Back focused on the human and emotional aspect of being a father deprived of his son, while Satan’s Angels addressed the issue of traditional values ??in the context of the past and present. AT:  Did you enjoy working with actress Amal Ayouch? Megri: I have worked with the Moroccan actress Amal Ayouch a lot so we’ve formed a unique bond. Our friendship and mutual respect has created a harmony and understanding between us that makes us a favorable duet for directors. AT: Being an artist with various talents (singing, acting, composing film-soundtracks) which of those do you enjoy the most?  Megri: There is a big difference between them all. Standing on a stage and communicating with the public through a song is much more live and emotional, while sitting in front of a computer watching a movie to create musical soundtracks requires serious technical concentration and painstaking creativity. Standing in front of cameras is much easier than facing the public on stage but the latter has its own sweetness, and I prefer it because I love the challenge, all that is sensuous and realistic excites me.