The TRT series Fatih: Sultan of Conquests tells the inspiring story of Fatih Sultan Mehmed, the visionary leader who reshaped history. Now in its second season, the series continues to captivate audiences and achieve high ratings. Following its presentation at MIPCOM, the series will be introduced internationally at DICM 2024.
For our DICM 2024 issue, we had the opportunity to speak with lead actor Serkan Çayoğlu to delve deeper into the show.
Serkan Çayoğlu: There’s always a sense of pride in me when saying I’m playing Fatih Sultan Mehmed.
When you first learned that you would be portraying Fatih Sultan Mehmed in your new project, what did you feel?
I felt excitement and, at the same time, a sense of apprehension. Our history is filled with legends, yes, but there are very few figures we regard as almost superhuman. Fatih is one of them. I’ve always wanted to take on a period role in my career, but I couldn’t even imagine it would be Fatih Sultan Mehmed. On one hand, I couldn’t wait for filming to start, but on the other, I felt as if even a year of preparation might not be enough. There’s always a sense of pride in me when saying I’m playing Fatih Sultan Mehmed.
How has portraying a historical figure, especially a sultan, transformed you personally? We know you trained in skills like using a sword, archery, and horseback riding. You also delved into the psychological depths of Fatih Sultan Mehmed. How did these physical and mental preparations together add dimension to your character?
I discover something about myself with every character I play. But Fatih feels like an endless journey in this sense. His way of handling life and its challenging conditions is incredibly instructive. He’s an example of someone who, in order to reach his ultimate goal, rather than acting out of blind ambition, turns the blows he receives to his advantage and knows how to control his emotions even in the most extreme situations.
Personally, this journey has been incredibly rewarding and motivating for me. The action scenes may be the showy part, but they also come with a high risk and intense adrenaline. When we consider that the heroes of that era grew up with horses and swords, it’s essential not to underestimate the physical preparation, both for the visuals and for our own well-being.
Serkan Çayoğlu: The well-known aspects of Fatih are like the tip of the iceberg; his true journey really begins after the conquest of İstanbul. In fact, very few people in our country know the full extent of what Sultan Mehmed accomplished. Taking Constantinople was, of course, a huge accomplishment but building an empire that would change the course of world history requires an even broader vision.
In one of your interviews, you mentioned that you have been reflecting on the fears and desires of Fatih Sultan Mehmed. What was it like to portray the inner conflicts of such a powerful leader? Which aspects did you focus on to help the audience feel his human side?
Even just imagining the emotions and the weight of responsibility that a great Sultan like him would have felt can be overwhelming for most of us. The lives of millions were directly under his impact. The intensity of his emotions feels like it must have been 100 times stronger than anything we experience. You realize even your imagination is being challenged. But, at the end of the day, whether he’s a sultan or a world leader, he’s still just a human. Our anatomy, our senses, our way of experiencing emotions, they’re all the same. In the scenes, I try to highlight the aspects we can empathize with without losing the grandeur of the sultan. The most important thing is that the audience can feel a connection with the character.
It’s clear that you’re impressed by Fatih’s passion for knowledge and intellectual depth. How did portraying this curious, intellectual character inspire you? How did these traits of Fatih influence your role and acting style?
To be honest, I’m more interested in how he prepared for what he did and how deeply he believed in it rather than in the achievements themselves. He had an incredible sense of curiosity and a hunger for knowledge.
Speaking seven languages to access accurate information from the source is just one example of this. This inevitably pushes me to seek out more knowledge myself.
The well-known aspects of Fatih are like the tip of the iceberg; his true journey really begins after the conquest of İstanbul. In fact, very few people in our country know the full extent of what Sultan Mehmed accomplished. Taking Constantinople was, of course, a huge accomplishment but building an empire that would change the course of world history requires an even broader vision.
When portraying characters like a sultan or a king, how does the feeling of immense power and authority affect your character and acting style? How does having such power-even just in a roleimpact you?
While filming many scenes, my fellow actors and I still talk about this matter and try to understand it. When we think about that level of power, there’s a bit of a mischievous smile on everyone’s face. Even though it’s just a role, I truly feel that power in those moments. You hold a superhuman, infinite power in your hands. But the real skill is in handling that kind of power. It’s about smoothing out the sharp edges that emotions bring you to and disciplining that sense of infinity within yourself, that’s what makes you successful. And of course, you can imagine those moments are quite fun (laughs).
Fatih Sultan Mehmed is one of the most magnificent Sultans in Ottoman history and holds a prominent place in world history as well. What are your thoughts on this role reaching an international audiences and sparking their curiosity about this historical figure?
It’s incredibly exciting for me to introduce a part of our cultural and historical heritage to audiences around the world. We’re telling the story of a truly magnificent era, and I feel proud to show Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s worldview and open-minded vision. He had a vision beyond his time. He built an empire where different religions and cultures could coexist.
Progress was made in every field, from science to art and literature. Most importantly, he respected everyone’s way of life. This reflects his openness and visionary nature. I believe there will also be curiosity on the international stage.
This interview with Serkan Çayoğlu was featured in Episode Magazine’s DICM 2024 issue.
