The inclement weather that had caused the airport in Istanbul to close, along with the severe storm that hit the country, were not even minor obstacles for our warrior and cover star Engin Altan Düzyatan to make it all the way to Dubai for the scheduled shoot. Just like in the famous historical drama and Turkish saga Resurrection: Ertuğrul the hero arrives right on time.
Although in the hotel he doesn’t show up on the back of his white horse wearing his brown leather armour or brandishing his sword looking fiercely straight into your eyes – as I would have imagined — the film and TV actor strides through the lobby toward me with graceful steps that do not lack that sense of solemnity Ertuğrul possesses; as handsome as your best girlfriend thinks but taller than I realised!
His casual look and modern slicked-back hair trigger some different anticipation as I stretch out my hand to welcome him and struggle to pronounce the few Turkish greeting words I learned.
Altan — as he prefers to be called — took a short break off the site of filming his latest TV series, Barbaros: Sword of the Mediterranean, for a quick visit to Dubai. Undoubtedly, acting has become a way of life for the Turkish star who has diligently gained fame since he started his career twenty years ago.
He grins a wide smile while telling me: “Acting is my job, my hobby but most of all my passion.” The actor has numerous major roles under his belt which vary in terms of genre. “As actors, we personalise different characters with each project, therefore we get to bring out different, sometimes even unknown, sides of our own selves.”
However, there is one role that is particularly dear to him; the Air force pilot Anatolian Eagles in a movie called Anatolian Eagle, Altan reveals to me.
“As an adrenalin addict myself it was really thrilling. I actually flew in one of the F16 planes and pulled a 9G force. It was really exciting,” he says. Altan’s passion for adventures evidently shows on his Instagram profile with photos of him embarking on some adrenalin-inducing activities as well as on his environmental pursuit.
“What I desire is to create awareness, to inform the masses that we have only one planet; we must be the guardians and must protect it,” Altan explains while he enthusiastically tells me about his two self-made documentaries where he travelled around the world on a mission to eliminate plastic waste.
As a strong advocate for the planet, Altan is concerned about the future of the Earth not just for the sake of his children but for all future generations. He is a loving and caring husband and father as well as a devoted actor for his fans. He managed to win the hearts of millions, but he confesses:
“Like everything in life, being a famous actor has its ups and downs. Contrary to popular belief, it needs tremendous discipline and patience. Sometimes we do not have the freedom everyone else has; our lives are limited.”
However, he stresses, that “stardom and the leadership it entails is also a responsibility If millions are watching you, making a role model of you, then you have a huge responsibility,” he adds. “I always keep that love and dedication in my mind.”
Throughout his career, Altan has played different roles that have made him rise to international prominence; they all have something in common: Heroism. “I have been playing lead roles more than half my life. The roles I portrayed were mostly these heroic, brave, strong and chauvinistic characters,” he says. “As a person, I believe in those values. I also believe that actors have powerful roles.” We cannot argue that in Resurrection: Ertuğrul, the character of Ertuğrul has made Altan the new heart-throb of all girls, the drama also has its burgeoning army of fans. It has already been dubbed into six languages and broadcast in 72 countries, demonstrating its enduring popularity; it has over 1.5 billion views on YouTube alone.
“It was a really a special role because I characterised one of the most prominent historical figures in history. He was a hero. He was kind, caring, most of all judicious, a definition of a true leader. Therefore, I believe everyone felt a connection with him. I always feel honoured to be a part of that special project.” Altan tells me proudly about his role as Ertuğrul. The five-season show which has been dubbed the “Muslim Game of Thrones” is undoubtedly a positive depiction of Islamic rituals and values.
“If we shed light on the last two roles I played which are Ertuğrul Ghazi in Resurrection: Ertuğrul and my current role Oruç Reis in Barbaros: Sword of the Mediterranean, they were both great role models of the Muslim world in their own spheres.”
While Ramadan comes upon us in April, such values are fostered even further with the spirit of the Holy Month; our Spring and Ramadan issue cover star believes. “Ramadan is a very important and spiritual time for all Muslims,” says Altan. “It reflects on the virtues that Islam embodies: being a religion of peace, of caring for others, and selflessness. I believe Ertuğrul had those sentiments; you could feel and actually see them in him. Therefore, he was a great Muslim leader for his people.”
Altan visits Dubai often for pleasure and business. The city has provided him new opportunities for him. “I believe new opportunities open new doors. The important thing is you need to be open to the changes and challenges, “the actor emphasises how “Dubai is an important destination for connectivity and interaction. It is open to creativity. It is the city of the present and of the future.”
We then plunge into side chats with the rest of the team about the future and what it entails in terms of technology and digital opportunities. I overhear Altan expressing his excitement about such subjects, but wait a minute... Has Erugrul Bey just mentioned that he has a special passion for NFTs and crypto?! As the leader of the Kayi tribe, he might have invested a lot in livestock and golden coins but cryptostock and Bitcoin are a starkly modern deviation for the Turkish warrior – I told you I had some different expectations!
“I see NFTs and crypto as the future,” he exclaims. “I believe they will change the world forever. If assessed correctly, they are brimming with opportunities. In fact, I have been interested in the Metaverse, cryptocurrency and NFTs for a while now. I try to understand more about blockchain technology and stay up to date,” he answers, when I deliberately interrupt his conversation for his opinion on the subject. “I invest in the projects I deem fit. We are on the verge of creating a really special crypto game with my partners in Dubai. Also, I have just invested in a Founder NFT project called Wideangle.”
Altan dreams of a new world where the planet is safe and humanity is better. He dreams of a world where we all come together to create new opportunities instead of just hanging onto the ghosts of the past. “My journey so far was fulfilling. Hopefully the future will bring only positive vibes,” he concludes to me with a beaming smile and I can only foresee that with every new dawn on the horizon of the young actor, many opportunities arise.”
