Leila Mourad was an Egyptian singer and actress, and one of the most famous stars in the Arab world during the 1940s and 1950s. She was known for her soft voice, emotional songs, and her roles in musical films. She came from a musical Jewish family in Cairo. Her father, Zaki Mourad, was a well-known singer. She began singing at age nine and appeared in her first movie when she was fifteen. In the 1930s and 1940s, she became a major celebrity in Egypt. Her most famous film was Ghazal El-Banat (1949), where she starred with popular actors like Naguib El Rihani. She married director Anwar Wagdi, who worked with her on several movies. In the early 1960s, she suddenly retired and stayed out of the public eye.

 
Leila Mourad’s song “Hayran Fi Donia El Khayal” (Arabic: حيران في دنيا الخيال) was released in 1946 as part of a 10‑inch Shellac 78 RPM record, where it appeared alongside "Oghneyet El Leil" on the same disc. The lyrics were penned by renowned Egyptian poet Ahmed Rami and the melody composed by the celebrated Mahmud Abdul-Wahab . The song opens with a poetic reflection on memory and longing:
“Hayran fi donia el-khayal, mahroum men al-thikrayat…”
(Lost in a world of fantasy, deprived of memories…)