Engin Altan Düzyatan Credits Pakistan for His Global Fame as Ertugrul

Engin Altan Düzyatan, the Turkish actor renowned for his role as Ertuğrul in the series Diriliş: Ertuğrul, has expressed profound gratitude towards Pakistan and its audience for the immense popularity he has gained outside Turkey. 

During a conversation at the Red Sea International Film Festival with fellow actor Nurgül Yesilcay, he emphasized the unique affection that Pakistani viewers have for his character, stating, “The people of Pakistan have so much love for this character. Viewers may be similar across the world but it’s a different ballgame in Pakistan”.

Reflecting on the character’s impact on his life, Duzyatan explained that while the role didn’t fundamentally change him, it did influence him just as he shaped the character. He noted that historical records only dedicate a single page to Ertugrul, leaving much unknown. This allowed him to leave his mark on the character as he developed it for the show.

“Every role is significant to me, but Ertugrul was special because it gained me worldwide recognition. Additionally, portraying the role required me to depict various phases of the character’s life,” he shared.

Discussing his favourite characters, Duzyatan mentioned he began acting at the age of 15 and became a professional actor at 20. He also expressed a strong aspiration to play Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the future.

When asked about his reaction to being invited to a film festival in Saudi Arabia, he said he felt deeply honoured to attend such a prestigious event. “Films bring people from different countries closer. In times of war and conflict, here we are celebrating love and cinema, which bring happiness to people,” he remarked.

On his transition from acting to producing, the Turkish star shared that after a certain point, acting alone feels limiting. “When you’re acting, you’re contributing to someone else’s vision and are just a small part of a larger project. Eventually, you feel the urge to tell and showcase your own stories,” he said.

In a recent interview with BBC’s Noreen Khan, Düzyatan elaborated on the reasons behind the show’s remarkable success in Pakistan, attributing it to the country’s admiration for well-crafted stories. He remarked, “I think both Turkish people and Pakistani people love well-crafted stories. Turkish series are successful in conveying a touching sense of drama to the audience”.

He also acknowledged that Diriliş: Ertuğrul has garnered more attention in Pakistan than in Turkey, which surpassed his expectations.

“When we were filming, we knew from the beginning it was going to be a memorable series. However, this much attention, even I didn’t imagine. We are grateful,” he stated.

Düzyatan’s visit to Pakistan in 2020 further solidified this connection, where he was warmly welcomed by fans and engaged with terminally ill children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He expressed his desire to work in a Pakistani drama if given a good story, showcasing his openness to cultural collaboration. “I would love to work in a Pakistani drama or film, given the right opportunity,” he said.

The show’s popularity has also had a positive impact on Turkish tourism, as it sparked interest among Pakistani viewers to explore Turkey’s historical significance.

Düzyatan noted, “We know for a fact that Turkish popularity increased after the TV series which is great news. We are really glad”.

The series became a household name in Pakistan after Prime Minister Imran Khan recommended it to the youth and it was subsequently aired on state-run PTV dubbed in Urdu as Ertugrul Gazi.