By: Yomna Walid In his first Ramadan appearance, Mohamed Moushtaha captivated audiences with a breakthrough performance in Sohab Al Ard, the Egyptian-Palestinian drama starring Menna Shalaby and Eyad Nassar, directed by Peter Mimi.
Playing Nedal, a young Palestinian man torn between love and danger, Moushtaha delivered one of the series&rsquo; most memorable performances, earning praise from viewers and marking him as a rising talent to watch.
NileFM spoke with Mohamed Moushtaha to go behind the scenes of his preparation for the emotionally charged role.
The role touched many hearts because it reminded people of every young Palestinian trying to protect his land and family. How did you prepare for &ldquo;Nedal&rdquo; psychologically before approaching it as an acting role? I tried to connect with the feelings that live inside most Palestinian youth. Each one of us wants to defend our rights, our land, and our families. I put myself in his place and asked, &ldquo;If I were him, how would I act?&rdquo; For me, Nedal is not about heroism. It is instinct, responsibility, and dignity. Once I truly believed in that feeling from within, the performance came naturally.
<a href="https://ibb.co/JFsyWCqn"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/847dnXbM/1.png" alt="1" border="0" /></a> The assault scene was one of the most emotionally difficult scenes in the series. Can you tell us more about that moment? How did you prepare for it? I approached it as a Palestinian who understands the feelings of helplessness, anger, and fear all at once. Before filming, I tried to calm myself and focus on the idea that the scene was not about showing strength but about protecting and defending someone I love. Director Peter Mimi supported me greatly, and I am deeply grateful for the trust he gave me. The scene was emotionally exhausting because it reflects a very real situation that repeatedly happens to Palestinian families and their property.
<a href="https://ibb.co/Rk4JFQdZ"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/NdnGvWbQ/2.png" alt="2" border="0" /></a> Tell us about working with director Peter Mimi. What is the most important advice he gave you that stayed with you? And what did you learn from Eyad Nassar and Menna Shalaby behind the scenes? It was a very important experience in my career, and I consider it a turning point. One of the most valuable pieces of advice he gave me was: &ldquo;Always be truthful. Live the moment and do what you genuinely feel.&rdquo; He always emphasized that if a scene comes from real emotion, it will reach people, no matter how simple it is. I want to thank him because he gave me great confidence and created a safe space where I could give my best. Any success achieved is largely thanks to his vision and belief in us as actors. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to film in the same location as Eyad Nassar and Menna Shalaby because I was shooting only the West Bank scenes, which were separate from the Gaza scenes. However, having such big names in the project was an honor, and I hope to work with them in the future. Nedal is a young man who dreams, fears, and suffers, yet refuses to break. What message would you like Arab youth to take from this character? Life is not always fair, and often you are faced with circumstances you did not choose. What matters is to hold onto your rights, reject injustice, and keep your faith strong that truth will prevail, no matter how long it takes.
<a href="https://ibb.co/Y4s762gj"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/NgB6XxRY/3.png" alt="3" border="0" /></a> After the strong audience reactions to the role, what comment affected you the most personally? What touched me most was the number of messages filled with pride, respect, and love. Many people said they were very happy with how I portrayed the role. But the most meaningful comment came from my family and friends when they told me they forgot they were watching &ldquo;Mohamed Moushtaha&rdquo; on screen and fully lived the experience with &ldquo;Nedal.&rdquo; For me, that is the greatest proof that the character truly reached people and that the emotion was sincere.
<a href="https://ibb.co/W4HVZL3M"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/tTHLg9hv/4.png" alt="4" border="0" /></a> After this success, where do you see yourself heading artistically? What types of roles would you like to explore next? Right now, I am focusing on organizing my next steps and developing myself further. I believe any upcoming step must be built on deeper professional acting training, because continuity is more important than a strong beginning. I would love to take on diverse roles that offer real challenges. What matters most to me is that the role is honest and helps me grow artistically.
<a href="https://ibb.co/h1LMwD56"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/2YW6Hg29/5.png" alt="5" border="0" /></a> Photo Credit: Mohamed Moushtaha&rsquo;s official page &nbsp;

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