From 1978 to 1985, he participated in several theatrical productions, before returning to Algeria in 1985 to join the National Theatre of Algeria to play the principal role in Eduardo De Filippo's production of L'Art De la Comédie. In 1986, he played in Ray Bradbury's Le Costume Blanc Couleur Glace à la Noix De Coco and created Les Aventures De Tchop, his first one-man show. He acted in a number of movies and TV shows during the period of turbulence in Algeria during the late 80s and early 90s.