If you’ve been fortune enough to spend any time in Istanbul over the last few weeks, you’ll have noticed that you can’t walk more than five feet without spotting a Bihter movie poster somewhere. In the airport, on the side of buildings, on bus stops, everywhere. Adapted from the 19th century classic Turkish novel, Forbidden Love, the film tells the universal story of romantic infidelity, and the sacrifices some people make in the pursuit of the forbidden fruit. And the hype for this updated adaption is very real.
Commencing inside the opulent Sait Halim Pasha Mansion in Istanbul, a blue (not red) carpet has been rolled out for those lucky to attend the exclusive premiere of Bihter. And sitting across from me in a Marc Bolan-esque sweater and stained with oceanic light seeping through the window is the film’s lead actor and Turkish heart-throb, Boran Kuzum. Although this is far from his first film, considering the leadup and media attention, it may be his biggest yet.
Esquire Middle East sits down for an interview with Kuzum ahead of the release on Amazon Prime, discussing inspirations, the retelling of classic stories, and authenticity.
Esquire: You initially studied economy, but then switched to acting. How did that conversation with your parents go down?
Boran Kuzum: I began to realise that I couldn’t even explain inflation (laughs), so studying economy probably wasn’t the best idea. And lucky for me, my parents are both artists, so compared to what you’d expect, they were very supportive of this decision. My father’s first reaction was “Are you good at memorising?”
Esquire: What was it like recreating such a beloved story, and did you have any nerves about your own interpretation of these classic characters?
BK: My first reaction when hearing about yet another adaptation was disinterest, but after reading the script I realised how different this version was as it was told from the woman’s perspective. It’s all about the masks we wear in society, especially today with social media.
Esquire: The character you play, Behlül, is quite the ladies man, and a bit of a bad boy. How did you prepare to play him?
BK: You can never call a character good or bad. Every behaviour has reasons behind it, and as an actor, you have to own that, and make the audience empathise with him. Behlül covers his true emotions with a mask, which just shows how misunderstood he really is, and that is something I can relate to. In these big cities, you have to wear a mask to protect yourself, but you have to be careful that you don’t become the mask you’re wearing.
Esquire: Bihter is a strong female character, but not by the current Hollywood definition – physical strength, leading an army, and rejecting love – but in her vulnerability and authenticity. What’s your opinion on Hollywood continuously transforming timeless stories to fit some fad narrative?
BK: To me, the only thing that matters is being authentic. The reason we have these old stories is because they are exactly that, authentic, and no matter where you are in the world, everybody can relate to them. Reinterpreting stories and retelling them is great, but the soul has to remain.
Esquire: For fans of the original book and TV show, what can you say about the movie without spoiling too much?
BK: Just wait for the ending…
Esquire: What’s your favourite film?
BK: Magnolia. My acting inspirations growing up were Leonardo DiCaprio, and then Daniel Day Lewis, but Magnolia is just the best.
