Many viewers recall Min Ahla Byout Ras Beirut as one of the most memorable local series that marked Lebanese drama in the early 2000s with its captivating plot and impressive cast. And if you’re wondering what the main characters are like now, then today’s nostalgia-peppered roundup was probably made for you.
Note: before you start reading, we highly advise you to set the right mood by playing the opening credits below.
Najwa (Randa Kehdy)
Introduced to the local art scene at an early age through her father, the renowned Lebanese actress grabbed the public’s attention with her candid portrayal of a dedicated mother trying to keep her family together after the death of her husband and has starred in a number of successful series, theater plays and films since then.
Sami (Ziad Najjar)
The bad boy of the series did not grow up to be a bad boy in real life. Najjar studied cinematography at ALBA and is now a happily married freelance film director based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Rudy (Samer Abou Rizk)
After making a lasting impression on female viewers in his first acting experience, Abou Rizk went on to earn his Master’s degree in Cinematography and Film/ Musical Theatre Production from ALBA and has directed over 30 kids shows and musicals over the past 15 years under his company LOUNA Group.
Lama (Lama Najjar)
Rudy’s wise sister in the series (and Ziad’s sister in real life, both of whom being the children of none but the series’ writer Marwan Najjar) studied Drama at the University of California, Irvine shortly after earning her BA in Political Science from AUB in 2001. She also worked as an English copywriter at Leo Burnett and is now teaching drama at Brummana High School.
Fadi (Cesar Naassy)
The cute little boy from ‘Men Ahla Byout Ras Beirut’ has grown to be a freelance music composer and bass singer. He holds an MA in Musicology from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) and continues to make appearances in Lebanese drama every now and then.
Chirine (Jihane Arsanios)
Remember the wide-eyed brunette whose troubled relationship with her father, tough lawyer Nazih, was a crucial part of the plot? She currently lives in Doha, Qatar and was a former presenter on JeemTV, Al Jazeera’s kids channel.
Rania (Mirna Dali)
Rania was one of the first residents of the famous Ras Beirut house and it was actually her mom who gave Najwa the idea to transform her big house into a student dorm on the very first episode. Dali has continued to work in media production in her post-acting days, notably at Studiovision.
Reem (Randa Alam)
The troubled girl from the series pursued film studies at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) and moved behind the camera to become one of the most renowned Lebanese female directors, handling freelance projects and directing video clips for a panoply of Arab artists including Nawal El Zoghbi, Najwa Karam and Cyrine Abdelnour along the way.
