A doppelganger of Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan, who played the role of Ertuğrul Ghazi in the superhit Turkish drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul has recently been found in Karachi.
Engin’s lookalike, identified as Mustafa Hanif, lives in Karachi and runs a YouTube channel through which he promotes tourism in the country.
In a recent interview with a local media outlet, Hanif said that people in his office had seen Diriliş: Ertuğrul before it was aired in Pakistan.
“I was often told that I look like the leading character of the series but I never paid much attention to it,” said the YouTuber. “When my own family started following the show and said the same, I watched it too and was stunned.”
He further shared: “Recently, I went to the market without wearing a facemask and a few people recognised me and started talking to me.
Mustafa also expressed his wish to visit Turkey to meet the cast of the show, including the lead character.
Dirilis: Ertugrul is being aired on Pakistan Television (PTV) with Urdu dubbing on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The show has gained immense popularity in a very short time and has set a new record of viewership in the country.
Ertuğrul fever in the country continues to run strong.
After Ertuğrul-inspired cakes, dresses and even snacks named after the TV show, we now have a drama serial inspired by the superhit Turkish historical series. Kawish Television Network (KTN), a private Sindhi TV channel, has released the teaser of their upcoming drama serial titled Raj Rani, which appears to be heavily inspired by the Turkish series.
The Turkish drama series has influenced Pakistan and its entertainment industry greatly . Taking inspiration from it, KTN entertainment has been producing a drama series titled Raj Rani, glorifying swords. https://t.co/F2a9sUYwtV
The short 30-second teaser shows an intense sword fight with an ancient fort in the background. It is interesting to see the inclusion of women in the sword fights, something that is unusual on Pakistani television.
While further details are not yet known about the series, watch the teaser below:
Set in 13th century Anatolia and based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in Pakistan ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country. According to details, more than 58 million people viewed the first episode on PTV’s YouTube channel in two months, and the entire show has had more than 250 million views. PTV’s YouTube channel has also registered an exponential rise in its viewership with more than 6 million subscribers and episodes trending every day on the social media platform.
In an exclusive interview with The Current, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed Khan revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.
Yasir Hussain’s criticism of QMobile appointing Esra Bilgiç as their brand ambassador has left the entertainment industry divided once again. While some actors have seconded Yasir’s opinion, others have said that it’s not a big deal and that international artists should be welcome in Pakistan.
While Minal Khan and Aiman Khan agreed with Yasir, Bilal Ashraf, Anoushey Ashraf and Agha Ali were of the opinion that there is no harm in foreign artists working in Pakistan.
“If Fawad and Mahira can work in India, I’m sure international artists can work here,” said Anoushey.
Agha said that actors like to be international and that we should work to welcoming them in our country. He said that we should respect them and work on building ties with other countries.
“Let outsiders feel welcomed here. And please stop making all of us actors [look] insecure,” commented Agha.
Bilal said that “art has no language or boundaries”.
He added, “Pakistan zinda dil logon ka mulk hai (Pakistan is a country of lively people).”
We need to welcome all artists from around the globe. Art has no language or boundaries. Don’t politicize everything. Love & welcome everyone. PAKISTAN Zinda Dil logon ka mulk hai. Aur Pakistani qaum kay dilon mei pyar he pyar hai
Aijaz Aslam said that “healthy competition is always good”.
Bhai jab Turkish drama aae ga tou Turkish actors bhee aain ge … masla kya hae ?? Hum bhee Turkish language seekh laitay hein … a healthy competition is always good … take it easy guys .. #turkish#turkishactors#turkishcontent#ghabrananahehai
Ever since Diriliş: Ertuğrul started airing in Pakistan, it has taken over the country by storm. The Turkish historical series has a cult following in the country and fans have been very excited since the cast expressed their wish to visit Pakistan.Esra Bilgiç who plays Halime Sultan in the series is particularly a favourite and the actor had earlier revealed that she will be endorsing three Pakistani brands.
One of them appears to be mobile company QMobile, who have announced that Esra will be the brand ambassador for their View Max Pro series.
Following their announcement, Yasir Hussain, who has been very critical of the government’s decision to air the drama on PTV, expressed his anger and disappointment over QMobile’s decision, saying: “Apko nahi lagta k Pakistan brand ki brand ambassador bhi Pakistani honi chahiye? Na Indian na Turkish? Pakistan Zindabad (Don’t you think Pakistani brands should have Pakistani brand ambassadors? Neither Turkish nor Indian).
The actor questioned why Pakistani actors like like Mahira Khan , Saba Qamar, Yumna Zaidi, Hira Mani cannot be brand ambassadors.
He added that he is not including his wife Iqra Aziz’s name in the list because she is already a brand ambassador for a mobile phone company.
Aiman Khan and Minal Khan also supported Yasir’s point of view.
Back when things were cordial between India and Pakistan, Pakistani artists had also criticised local brands for featuring Bollywood stars in their campaigns.
The cast of Ertuğrul, including Esra Bilgiç and Engin Altan Düzyatan, have expressed their desire to visit Pakistan and interact with their Pakistani audiences who have showered them with so much love and appreciation.
Given the ongoing pandemic and restricted movement, the cast has been unable to plan a visit to the country. However, according to a press release by Sophisto Global Media, the cast is expected to visit Pakistan in October or November depending on the situation. Sophisto Global Media is an international media company and a subsidiary of Imtiaz Holding, Turkey’s largest British-Pakistani owned holding company. It provides advertising, endorsement and media services to many of the world’s leading brands in both Turkey and abroad.
CEO of Imtiaz Holding Omar Imtiaz said that the cast will visit Pakistan to meet with fans and producers and “build something spectacular for the long term”.
He added that the Turkish actors are looking forward to the visit and many are already learning words as well as choosing which food dishes they want to try.
According to details, a joint collaboration agreement was signed between Sophisto Global Media and Hasan Gungor, a celebrity management agency which represents many of Turkey’s leading actors including those from Diriliş: Ertuğrul, to promote cross-border partnership. Under the agreement, Turkish talent, culture and history through film, drama, art and music will be showcased in Pakistan while Pakistani drama, talent, productions, art and music will be promoted in Turkey.
Esra Bilgiç, who plays the fearless Halima Sultan in the super hit Turkish series, Diriliş: Ertuğrul, says that she would love to visit Pakistan and feature the country in her documentary project.
In an interview with Hello Magazine Pakistan, Esra, who is currently studying Law, shared that she has written a documentary project about “how nature responds to us in all circumstances.”
“The destroyed agricultural areas, forests ruined by urbanization and the habitats of animals which could return to their former fertile states in such a short time. No matter how much damage we do to nature, it hugs us every time we go to it,” said Esra.
She continued: “I intend to reach villages and mountainous areas that have difficulties, due to financial deficiencies and access to natural resources. I want to help the local people, to listen and photograph their problems, and to make everyone aware. In the quarantine period with the team in Turkey, we have identified a few places. I want to complete all our preparations — and after a few photography classes— get to work.”
The actor then expressed her desire to visit Pakistan for her project.
“I hope that my first visit to Pakistan will take place as part of this documentary project,” she said. “I want to photograph the geographical topography, the vegetation and the exotic sites. I love the mountainous areas of the Babusar Kaghan Valley; the views overlooking the Valley of Leepa in Azad Kashmir; the camp plan in Concordia and the amazing Deosai plateau.”
Esra added: “In fact, the Kashmir region is one of the places I am most curious about and want to travel to and determine a few places for the documentary project.”
Meanwhile, talking about the success of the series in Pakistan, Esra said she cannot thank the Pakistani audience enough for their love and that the success has motivated her to excel more.
“To know that the character to whom I gave life as an actor, embraced like this, is the biggest reward I could get. Literally it is like a prize,” exclaimed the actor.
On why Ertuğrul resonated so well with the Pakistani audience, Esra said: “The fact that a movie series or music finds a response in people living in other cultures proves that emotions are universal. The main theme of the Ertuğrul was not to remain silent in the face of injustice, to stand by the oppressed and to fight for justice.”
“I believe that the Pakistani people’s love for Ertuğrul has led them to embrace our similarities, especially in the ways we express emotion.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a video meeting with renowned writers across the country, urged them to promote family values and national identity through their writings and dramas. Writers who were part of the meeting included Hasina Moin, Amjad Islam Amjad, Bee Gul, Fasih Bari Khan, Zafar Meraj, Zanzbeel Asim Shah, Amna Mufti, Saima Ikram Chaudhry and Jahanzeb Qamar.
According to APP, the prime minister assured the government’s support for the promotion of national culture and identity. In the meeting, PM Khan discussed the importance of highlighting national culture and identity and said that the education and training of the youth had been jeopardized by modern communication tools, internet, easy access to objectionable content and onslaught of alien culture and traditions.
The PM asserted that foreign content – such a Bollywood – is putting our history, culture and social values in danger and reducing the youth’s knowledge about Islamic personalities, sagas and national history.
PM Imran also said that the government was aiming to revamp and digitalise Pakistan Television (PTV) and revive its previous glory.
Fasih Bari Khan, and other writers present on the occasion, speaking to a private media outlet, said that PM Khan had highlighted that the whole society was in a state of moral decay and that the country was leading in child pornography. PM Khan attributed rising divorce rates to the moral degradation of society and the influence of Western cultures. He expressed his distress at the rising divorce cases in society and spoke at length on the topic. He urged playwrights to help the new generation in moral training and character building.
PM Khan also expressed his desire for an Ertuğrul -type drama to be produced in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, when Bee Gul disagreed with PM Khan’s point of view and said that while divorce should be discouraged, it should not be stigmatised as it puts stress on the woman, her mic was switched off and PM Khan said that divorce has a negative effect on children and the family structure.
The writers hoped that this meeting would bear fruit and would bring positive changes, because more often than not, they are pressurised into writing a certain type of story by private channels.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Lt Gen (Retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa were also part of the meeting.
2) وزیر اعظم نے قومی تہذیب و تمدن اور پاکستانیت کو اجاگر کرنے کی اہمیت پر زور دیتے ہوئے کہا کہ ماڈرن ذرائع ابلاغ ، انٹرنیٹ پرہر قسم کے مواد خصوصاً قابل اعتراض کی آسان دستیابی اور مغربی طور طریقوں اور بیرونی کلچر کی یلغار سے ہماری اقدار اور –
4)- بھی برائے نام اور محدود ہوتی جا رہی ہیں۔ وزیر اعظم نے کہا کہ نئی نسل کو قومی تشخص سے روشناس کرانے ، معاشرتی اقدار اور پاکستانیت کے فروغ کے لئے ضروری ہے کہ اس حوالے سے فوری طور پر اقدامات اٹھائے جائیں۔
6) وزیر اعظم نے کہا کہ قومی تہذیب و تمدن اور پاکستانیت کے فروغ کے حوالے سے کوششوں کی حکومتی سطح پر بھرپور پذیرائی کی جائے گی۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ حکومت پاکستان ٹیلی ویژن کی اصلاح پر خصوصی توجہ دے رہی ہے تاکہ پی ٹی وی قومی تشخص اجاگر کرنے میں اپنا کردار ماضی کی طرح ادا کر سکے۔
Turkish historical series Diriliş: Ertuğrul continues to create waves in Pakistan, with fans tuning in to the watch the show in Urdu on PTVregularly.
Pakistan’s renowned singer and musician Hadiqa Kiani paid a rich tribute to the series and the people of Turkey by “remastering Turkish song Sen Ağlama“. Kiani had earlier sung it at the AKM Opera House in 2005. The Atatürk Cultural Center (Atatürk Kültür Merkezi in Turkish), better known as AKM, is a cultural centre in Istanbul.
In 2005, I had the honor of singing the Turkish song #SenAğlama at the AKM Opera House. Today, I have remastered that song as a tribute to @TRTErtugrulPTV series, #SezenAksu & to the people of Turkey. May our love and bond be forever strong. ❤️ Stream: https://t.co/OT2vwrsTty
In a statement, the singer’s team said: “The love between Turkey and Pakistan is unlike the love of any other country. Hadiqa Kiani’s maternal ancestors are from İzmir, Turkey and she has had an affinity for the country since her childhood.”
“As a child prodigy, Kiani represented Pakistan in the International Children’s Festival in Turkey and as an adult in 2005 she returned to the great country to once again represent Pakistan at the iconic Atatürk Cultural Center and Opera House,” it added. “The biggest surprise for the audience was said to be when Kiani sang Sen Ağlama (Turkish song of Living Legend Sezen Aksu) to a standing ovation from the audience. She told the audience that as Turkey stood beside Pakistan in good and bad times, she wanted to convey the love of Pakistani people for the Turks.”
The statement further read: “Now in 2020, a new milestone in the relationship between Pakistan and Turkey was cemented by the mammoth success of Ertuğrul in Pakistan and we thought of no better time to pay a public tribute to the people of Turkey by officially releasing Hadiqa’s original performance of Sen Ağlama.”
“This is the first time a Pakistani singer has sung in the Turkish language but it won’t be the last. The friendship between the two countries will continue to shine through music, art and love,” the statement concluded.
Kiani’s gesture was positively received, especially by the Turkish people.
Pakistanlı sanatçı @Hadiqa_Kiani@sezenaksu_tw nun “Sen ağlama” şarkısını Diriliş Ertuğrul’un aşk sahnelerinden oluşan harika bir klip eşliğinde seslendirmiş, ortaya muhteşem bir iş çıkmış, dinlenilesi… ❤️ #dirilisertugrul
Ever since Diriliş: Ertuğrul started airing in Pakistan, the nation has been obsessed with the drama series and its cast. Not only the elders but kids are also following the series and it looks like Ertuğrul has now become their superhero.
After strongly criticising PTV’s decision to air the series, the actor in his latest social media post has praised the series and called it a “classic masterpiece”. He also thanked the creators, cast and technicians for making this “epic”.
To put things into perspective, it can be understood that Shaan is not against the series but is in fact against PTV’s decision to air the series as evident from the tweets below. The actor asserted that he is not against the drama but doesn’t understand why PTV charges a hefty amount to show foreign products.
Bhai mera etaraaz drama ya Turk sai nahee … ptv sai hai ..PTV hum sub sai 7 arab rs her saal laita hai… or banata kuch bhi nahee…
aap hamwatan hain hain is liyay phir bataa daita hoon. Etaraaz dramay per nahee ptv per dekhaanay sai hai.. is liyay kai woh 7 billion charge kerta hai hum sab sai or banaata ki has bhi nahee.. Aap Turkish state tv per Pakistani kuch bhi chala ker dikha dain plzzzz ..
I’m not against Turkish dramas plzzz for the last time understand that,I’m against the govt supporting imported content .. &giving local industry a thumbs down .. when pvt producers brought Turkish dramas the whole tv industry stood against it
Shaan had also appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to support the entertainment industry and stop cultural imports like these. It is pertinent to mention here that Shaan was also very critical of Bollywood films being released in Pakistan and had always voiced his dissent against them.
@ImranKhanPTI sir I believe in this economic crisis we were not supporting imports .then why cultural imports are open . Why Ptv showing imported dramas believe in your own talent and history .With your supportive policies we can bring on the entertainment map of the world
Diriliş: Ertuğrul is being aired on PTV on the recommendation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Set in 13th century Anatolia and based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in the country ever since its first episode aired on the first of Ramzan. According to PTV, 133.38 million people have watched the drama series from April 25- May 14. PTV’s YouTube channel has also registered an exponential rise in its viewership with 5.65 million subscribers and episodes trending every day on the social media platform.
In an exclusive interview with The Current, Senator Faisal Javed Khan had revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.
