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In the 1930’s, Egypt was an important center of Arab culture. In those years, Egyptian Jews played a pivotal role in the development of the local film industry. Some well-known names include Leila Mourad – Egypt’s leading movie star – and the director Togo Mizrahi, who is considered the pioneer of the Egyptian film industry.
During that same period, existing mores in India prohibited local women from appearing in films. Jewish actresses took their place and became big stars, including Pramila (Esther Victoria Abraham), Nadira (Florence Ezekiel) and Sulochana (Ruby Mayers). Many Jews followed in their footsteps and were instrumental in establishing the Indian film industry, known today around the world as Bollywood.
