In love with the 'fun' film industry

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She is ‘fun’ loving. So much so that she is looking forward to acting in Bollywood movies which according to her are so full of ‘fun’.

Meet the Turkish actress, Meltem Cumbul, who was recently in the City to attend 12th Osians Cinefan Film Festival. Metrolife got up, close and personal with the beautiful actress, who is also a known name in the Turkish entertainment industry and has already made her debut in Hema Malini’s Tell Me O Khuda.

Meltem is in love with Bollywood but do people in Turkey watch Indian movies? “They used to, in the 1960s and 70s because at that time Indian movies were very similar to Turkish films, since they had a lot of singing and dancing. But now the taste has changed. Now, the Turkish people are more into watching television – to the extent that television industry in Turkey is posing a serious threat to cinema. “People prefer watching television rather than going to a cinema hall to watch a film.”

But why is television so popular in Turkey when the world over people are leaning more towards the big screen for entertainment? “They make good dramas (soap operas) and sell them all over the world. These television dramas are popular all over Middle-East, which explains the big money that is being poured into the industry and its promotion.”

Meltem herself used to be a popular television actress but left it all for the love of films.

“In 1997 I stopped doing those shows and concentrated on films. Infact, I also act in theatre and teach acting in Turkey.”

She loved working with Indian actors in Tell Me O Khuda. “I really liked working with the Indian team here. Some parts of the movie were shot in Turkey too and it was a lot of fun. Cinema in Turkey is very serious or may be I do serious films but still experimental films don’t do as good a business as say, a comedy. So if a film is making good money at the box-office then you can make out that it must be either a comedy or a love story.”

Having worked with the Deol clan, was she invited for Esha Deol’s much talked about wedding? “Yes but I was working in Istanbul so couldn’t make it.” However, the Turkish beauty has met the newly wed couple. “I met Esha recently, she looked beautiful. They are a handsome couple!”

The word ‘wedding’ makes Meltem share an interesting fact with Metrolife. “Since the last two years, there have been many Indian weddings in Turkey. I have seen friends go crazy arranging them and preparing for them an year in advance. So many Indian couples are heading to Turkey for their wedding ceremony that the country almost looks like a wedding destination.” 

However, the actress is yet to attend one herself and is looking forward to it!