'Going Against Traffic'... Comedy, Action, Crime, and Theft in Riyadh
His first tour began yesterday across all cinemas in Saudi Arabia.
Asma Al-Siyari: “People will hate me, and Najwa’s character resembles me in real life!”
The audience experienced moments of joy and entertainment while watching the Saudi cinematic film “Akse Sir” during its special and first screening in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Several of the film’s stars revealed their upcoming projects. Actor Abdulaziz Al-Shahrani began by saying, “We exerted ourselves to present a Saudi film with all our love, titled ‘Akse Sir.’ We aimed to deliver a work that aligns with the audience’s taste, especially since cinema lovers today possess refined sensibilities. We hope, God willing, that it earns their admiration.”
When asked about the difficulties faced during filming, Al-Shahrani said, “The film has an action-oriented theme and contains many dangerous scenes. However, the tremendous effort of the production team—starting with our wonderful and creative director Abdulaziz Al-Shalahi, the brilliant screenwriter Mufarraj Al-Mujaffal, and the strong, distinctive production—made many obstacles easier to overcome and ensured smooth and straightforward filming.”
“Official Release”
Al-Shahrani sent a message to his audience, saying, “Welcome to the screening of the film. We are honored by your viewing of the work, which officially begins on August 13 in all Saudi cinemas. I hope it earns your admiration.”
Actor Abdulmajeed Al-Kanani said, “I am very happy to be present at the special screening of ‘Akse Sir’ in Riyadh. This screening followed the film’s first showing in the Eastern Region, and thank God, the public turnout was highly satisfactory. The audience’s reaction at the special screening was beautiful and greatly pleased us, praise be to God.”
Al-Kanani continued, “Every project we undertake involves many difficulties, but if you are surrounded by a professional and capable team, those challenges become manageable. The most difficult challenge I faced was embodying my character, and I hope I portrayed it correctly.”
Speaking about his experience working with Abdulaziz Al-Shahrani, Al-Kanani said, “Working with Abdulaziz is amazing. He is a friend of mine, and I personally admired his work before we collaborated on a single project. He is a professional, wonderful, and cooperative person, and I am grateful for this experience with him.”
Regarding his upcoming projects, Al-Kanani revealed, “I am preparing for a new program that is not yet complete. There are also offers for cinematic films, but none have been finalized yet. I am waiting for the audience’s reaction to ‘Akse Sir’ first. We strive for ‘Akse Sir’ to earn their admiration and resonate with them. I tell my audience that if my character ‘Naji’ reaches you, I will be at the peak of happiness.”
“Public Hatred”
Asma Al-Siyari also spoke, saying, “I am happy with this experience and proud of it. I was honored to work with my fellow actors and with director Abdulaziz Al-Shalahi. I portrayed the role of ‘Najwa,’ a character who somewhat resembles me in real life—not too much, so that people won’t hate me. Playing her was not difficult because she is similar to me. The difficulties I faced were related to time and the long hours of filming; we shoot from approximately dawn until the dawn of the next day. However, I did not encounter significant difficulties and was happy with this beautiful experience. The moment that pleased me most was when, after finishing filming the final scene, I did not realize it was my last day of shooting, and they praised my performance, which greatly delighted me.”
She spoke about her experience working with the film’s stars, saying, “Working with Abdulmajeed and Abdulaziz was wonderful; they are creative individuals.”
She concluded by saying, “Watch ‘Akse Sir,’ and everything you see in the film will be the opposite of what you expect.”
“A New Experience”
Finally, artist Faton Al-Jarallah expressed her joy over the special screening, saying, “I am delighted to launch the work in Riyadh. A few days ago, we were with the production team and presented its premiere in the Eastern Province, where it was screened for the first time as a Saudi production. We were honored by this opportunity and surprised by the impressive turnout. I am also happy about the wonderful reception from the audience.”
Continuing, Faton added, “My experience with Abdulaziz Al-Shalhoub is always different, because I learn from him, and every project we work on together brings me a new experience.”
She addressed her fans, saying, “I invite my audience to watch the film.”
Faton Al-Jarallah also revealed her upcoming projects, stating, “I have a new series titled ‘Red or White,’ which will premiere on August 14, 2026. There are also other works, films, and surprises to come.”
“Story and Heroes”
“Ekhtilaf Sir” is a film that blends comedy, action, crime, and heist elements. It is written by Mufarraj Al-Mujafal and directed by Abdulaziz Al-Shalhoub, with support and partnership from the BIGTIME Fund. The cast features Abdulaziz Al-Shahri, Abdulmajid Al-Kanani, Mohanad Al-Saleh, Asma Al-Siyari, Muayad Al-Naiefi, Fawaz Abdullah, and Hassan Al-Abdi.
The story follows “Naji,” who attempts to rescue his wife from prison through a risky plan alongside “Ata,” a reckless young man. Their efforts to escape the crisis spiral into a series of wrong decisions, chases, and unexpected situations.
