Mourad Zaoui: “happy to return to Morocco and work with a new generation of actors”

After a long period spent evolving in international projects like “The Forgiven”, “The Night Manager”, “The Spy” or “The Blacklist”, Mourad Zaoui returns to the Moroccan scene in the new series “Ala Ghafla”. Directed by Hicham Jebari, it is being filmed in the Habous district of Casablanca, where Le360 met the actor.

In “Ala Ghafla”, the latter plays Anouar, a doctor from a wealthy family, but determined to put his skills at the service of disadvantaged populations. He thus renounces the life of luxury to treat patients in remote areas, free of charge. “Anouar is a character who encounters incomprehension from those around him, for whom money and social status are essential.», Explains the actor.

The actor confides that his long-standing relationship with director Hicham Jebari encouraged him to join this project. “We have been in regular contact for several years and we already worked together around ten years ago. When he asked me to participate in this project, I didn’t hesitate for a second and decided to come back to Morocco for a while“, he says, admitting to having had the impression, upon joining the local sets, of “go home».

Mourad Zaoui is delighted to collaborate with actors of the new generation. “I had already worked with Rabie El Kati, but this is my first time with Salwa Zarhane and Oussama Bastaoui», he explains, remembering, smiling, a filming anecdote: “One day, Osama told me he watched me on television when he was little».

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Referring to the evolution of television productions in Morocco, Zaoui highlights the progress made in terms of equipment and filming conditions. “I have noticed a clear progression compared to the time when I was still on the Moroccan plateaus, whether in terms of technology or financial resources. I didn’t follow local productions much during my years abroad, but I am pleasantly surprised by what I discover today,” he concludes.