Mahmoud Qasdy Ahmed Mourad Zulfikar (18 February 1914 – 22 May 1970) was an Egyptian film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He was a major figure in Egyptian film industry.
He started his career as an architect, before becoming an actor in 1939. Zulfikar was one of the most prominent artists in Egyptian cinema, he was known for his boldness and adventure with the new talents he presented to the Egyptian audience, later, he was nicknamed the "Talent Finder". Zulfikar was able to go beyond the limits of the film location with accurate calculations and through his imaginations, he could make his scripts alive. This earned him in Egypt the nickname of "The Event Maker".
Early life
Mahmoud Qasdy Ahmed Mourad Zulfikar was born on February 18, 1914, in Tanta, Egypt. His father, Ahmed Mourad Bek Zulfikar, served as a senior police commissioner in the Ministry of Interior and his mother Nabila hanem Zulfikar was a housewife. He was the fourth among eight siblings. His brother Mohamed who would grow up to be a businessman, Soad, Fekreya, Ezz El-Dine who would grow up to be a famous filmmaker. They were followed by brothers Kamal, Salah, the famous actor and producer and finally Mamdouh who would grow up to be a businessman.
Career
Mahmoud Zulfikar graduated from faculty of engineering and worked as an architect in the Design Department at the Ministry of Works, but his passion for movie business encouraged him to make a career shift and become a filmmaker. He was an actor, film producer, screenwriter, and film director.
Zulfikar was a comprehensive artist. He is one of the most talented filmmakers in the history of Egyptian cinema. He started as an actor in 1939, and directed 44 films between 1947 and 1970. Zulfikar's films have been nominated for numerous awards both nationally and internationally. As an actor, his film debut was in Bayayet El Tiffah (1939). He starred in multiple commercial hits mostly as a director as well, including; Ibn El-balad (1942), El-Feloos (1945), Fauq Al Sahab (1947), Al lailu lana (1949), Akhlaq lil baye (1950), Qamar Arba'tashar (1950), and My Father Deceived Me (1951).
Zulfikar's notable films as a writer, director included; A Girl from Palestine (1948), Amint Bi Allah (1953), El Ard El Tayeba (1954), The Unknown Woman (1959), El Robat el Mukadass (1960), For Men Only (1964), Dearer than my Life (1965), Al Khroug Men Al Guana (1967), The Splendor of Love (1968), and Featureless Men (1972) which was released posthumously. Zulfikar's 1963 film Soft Hands was entered into the 14th Berlin International Film Festival and he was nominated for Silver Bear for Best Director. As a producer, he established his film production company in early 1940s, produced almost 10 films including Miss Fatima (1952).
Personal life
Zulfikar married actress Aziza Amir, and together they made a successful duo. After her death he married Mariam Fakhreddine in 1952 and presented her to film industry, she became a famous actress in 1950s. They had one daughter, Iman. He's the elder brother of Ezz El-Dine, film director and producer, and Salah, actor and producer.
Zulfikar died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 56 on May 22, 1970, in Cairo, Egypt.