From Abid Usman
LAHORE: This year has been the year of Turkish productions in Pakistan. While local audiences were not alien to addictive Turkish soaps, the dramatic arrival of one character on our screens changed the way Pakistanis saw TV and historical fiction.
Ertugrul Ghazi came on his white horse Aktolgali, and took our imagination by a storm; signifying peace, harmony and most importantly, our faith in the Almighty. Ertugrul Ghazi is the protagonist of the Turkish period drama Diriliş: Ertuğrul and is played by Engin Altan Düzyatan. While some stars of the show had already visited Pakistan and thanked their fans for the love, the latest actor to visit is none other than the lead star of Düzyatan himself.
He arrived in Lahore on Thursday morning for a short visit, where he received a warm welcome from his fans. On Friday afternoon, he spoke to the media in a brief press conference. “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Imran Khan for praising Diriliş: Ertuğrul,” said the 41-year-old actor.
He then thanked his Pakistani fans for the outpour of love he had received over the last few months for his portrayal of the famous historic figure. Talking about how he would love to star in a Pakistani project, he shared, “I would love to work in a Pakistani drama or film, given the right opportunity. When I find a script I can relate to, I will sign it!”
Düzyatan was also in awe of the stunning locales up north. “I’m actually sad that I didn’t get to stay more,” he smiled. “Pakistan is so beautiful! The sceneries are gorgeous, the mountains and the surrounding areas are breathtaking. I love the Lahori food as well! It’s a bit spicy but very tasty.”
Rumours of the star visiting Pakistan had been rife for a few months now. Earlier, in an interview with BBC Asian Network, the actor had shared why he thinks the series connects to the Pakistani audience so much. “I think both Turkish people and Pakistani people love well-crafted stories. Turkish series are successful at conveying a touching sense of drama to the audience,” he said.
