Lotfi Zini

🎭 Lotfi Zini

Saudi Actor, Poet, Singer, and Businessman – A Pioneer in Saudi Arts and Media

 

🪪 Full Name:

Abdul Latif Aqil Zini, known as Lotfi Zini

 

📅 Born:

1939 – Mecca, Saudi Arabia

 

🕯️ Died:

September 19, 2001 (aged 61) – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

 

🇸🇦 Nationality:

Saudi

 

🧑‍💼 Occupations:

Actor 🎭, Poet ✍️, Producer 📽️, Businessman 🏢

 

🕰️ Years Active:

1961 – 1999

 

🌱 Early Life:

His father Aqil Zini was the head broker (Sheikh of real estate brokers) in Jeddah.

 

After his father's death, Lotfi Zini took his place and founded Zini Real Estate Company, coinciding with the real estate boom.

 

He began his artistic career as a journalist at Al-Madina newspaper, where he conducted the first-ever artistic interview with singer Talal Maddah.

 

🌟 Artistic Influence and Relationships:

Maintained strong friendships with top Arab artists including:

 

🎤 Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Umm Kulthum, Farid Al-Atrash, Sabah

 

🎭 Adel Imam, Mahmoud El-Meliguy, Nadia El-Gendy, Nour El-Sherif

 

🎶 Supported Talal Maddah and wrote over 20 songs for him

 

🎙️ Discovered and supported singer Fawzi Mohsen

 

🎸 Discovered and launched Abadi Al-Johar, writing some of his early hit songs

 

📺 Artistic Career:

📽️ Films:

1965: Born Again – Egyptian film with Moharram Fouad

 

1968: Meeting of Strangers – with Ahmed Mazhar, Farid Shawqi

 

📺 TV Series:

1965: The Madman Sketch – first Saudi TV appearance

 

1966: The Clinic – with Hassan Dardir

 

1967: I’m Your Brother Ameen – Saudi play, written by Talal Maddah

 

1969: Songs in the Sea of Dreams

 

1971: At the Surprise Hotel

 

1972–1973: Al-Aseel – with Talal Maddah

 

1974: Tahfa and Mashqas in Kafr El-Blass – comedy duo with Hassan Dardir

 

1983: People for Each Other

 

1985: She’s Crazy, Crazy – with Nelly

 

1986: Visitor from Space

 

1992: Laila’s Time is Coming

 

1993: The Trial – as Editor-in-Chief Azmi

 

Also starred in Castle on the Sand (1992) with Mohamed Hamza

 

✍️ Notable Songs (Lyrics by Lotfi Zini):

With Talal Maddah:

Listen to My Life

 

Tunisian Eyes

 

I Was Wrong and I Apologize

 

He Left Me Alone

 

Traveler to Riyadh

 

Oh Moon, Shine, My Night, My Heart, Look

 

And many more...

 

With Abadi Al-Johar:

Oh Gazelle

 

Didn’t I Tell You

 

My Beautiful One

 

🏆 Awards and Honors:

🏅 Janadriyah Shield of Leadership – presented by Crown Prince King Abdullah

 

🏆 International Grand Prize for Leadership – Switzerland

 

🎖️ Cairo International TV Festival Award

 

🥇 Cultural Merit Medal – from Tunisian President Zine El Abidine

 

🎬 Represented Saudi Arabia at the Children's Film Festival in India

 

🧠 Business and Media Ventures:

Took over and expanded the Zini Real Estate Company after his father’s death

 

Founded Zini Film in the early 1980s in West Germany, later relocating it to Tunisia

 

Produced Arab television content using advanced European production techniques

 

🕊️ Death:

Passed away in Jeddah hospital due to a brain stroke on September 19, 2001

 

Left a rich legacy in Saudi music, television, poetry, and business