Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alykassem_/">Aly Kassem</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mariam.naoum/">Mariam Naoum'</a>s Instagram accounts &nbsp;
If you thought Lam Shamseya wrapped up all its secrets, think again. Director Karim El Shenawy and screenwriter Mariam Naoum took to Instagram Live to answer burning fan questions, pulling back the curtain on the creative process, the show&rsquo;s complex social themes, and even the challenges of bringing it all to life. From casting choices to behind-the-scenes struggles, here&rsquo;s what they had to say.
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Why This Social Class?
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One of the most asked questions was about the show&rsquo;s focus on Egypt&rsquo;s B and B+ class. Why not center the story around a lower-income community, like many other dramas this year? Naoum made it clear that societal issues don&rsquo;t belong to just one class.
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&ldquo;The idea that certain social classes don&rsquo;t experience these issues is simply false,&rdquo; she stated, for her, the choice wasn&rsquo;t about exclusion&mdash;it was about perspective. The B-class provided room to explore layered characters without falling into melodrama. El Shenawy agreed, explaining that this class represents a &ldquo;value balance&rdquo; in society, where traditional and modern beliefs collide. It was the perfect backdrop to examine the show&rsquo;s deeper themes.
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Finding Ali El Baily 'Youssef'
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Ali El Baily&rsquo;s performance stole hearts, but how did he land the role? El Shenawy vividly remembers the moment he saw Ali&rsquo;s audition.&ldquo;The moment I saw Ali, I felt like he was the one. I didn&rsquo;t know him before&mdash;I saw his audition, and I wanted a partner, not just an actor.&rdquo;
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They didn&rsquo;t just cast him&mdash;they got to know him. Meeting his family sealed the deal, and they knew he had the emotional support needed for such an intense role. And this won&rsquo;t be the last we see of Ali. &ldquo;I have plans for him after the series,&rdquo; El Shenawy teased.
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Writing Meets Directing: A Creative Dance
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The magic of Lam Shamseya wasn&rsquo;t just in the performances; it was in how the story came to life. Naoum and El Shenawy&rsquo;s partnership was key, &ldquo;The best thing about working together is that we create with one another,&rdquo; Naoum explained. &ldquo;The process starts with an idea, then we refine it through endless rewrites.&rdquo;
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El Shenawy sees himself as more than just a director&mdash;he&rsquo;s part of the storytelling from the start.&ldquo;I consider myself part of the writing room. We debate everything&mdash;the tone, the genre, the smallest details&mdash;so by the time we shoot, we&rsquo;ve already fought over everything.&rdquo;
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This collaborative approach ensured that the series remained authentic, evolving naturally instead of forcing a message.
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The Toughest Days on Set
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Every scene in Lam Shamseya demanded emotional depth, and some days were more draining than others.&ldquo;Some days, actors would start with two heavy scenes, and by the end of the day, they were emotionally drained. You have to know how to re-energize them,&rdquo; El Shenawy revealed.
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It wasn&rsquo;t just about the actors&mdash;everyone on set felt the weight of the project. The emotional intensity of the story meant the crew had to carefully create an environment where these performances could flourish. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no such thing as an &lsquo;difficultscene&rsquo; in this series. The entire process required precision and focus.&rdquo;
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So&hellip; Is It Based on a True Story?
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With such a raw and realistic portrayal of trauma and societal issues, many fans wondered if the series was inspired by a real-life case. Naoum set the record straight, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not based on one specific real-life case, but it is very much real. These situations happen, and we need to face them.&rdquo;. The reason it feels so real? Because it is real. The events may be fictionalized, but they are deeply rooted in reality&mdash;researched, studied, and pieced together to tell a powerful story.
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&ldquo;The more grounded a story is in truth, the more authentic it feels.&rdquo;
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And with that, Lam Shamseya has proven to be more than just a show&mdash;it&rsquo;s a conversation starter, a reflection of reality, and, according to its creators, just the beginning of something bigger.
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