SPOTLIGHT: PAKISTAN’S TURKISH SWEETHEART

Two months ago, Halime Sultan pounced on Pakistan, the Seljuk warrior princess took a dominating look at our local audience and caught her immediately. She was the quintessential "Islamic" heroine; beautiful in her traditional headdress and headdress, as brave and just as her hero, the infamous Ertugrul Ghazi. It was also an indication of what the Pakistani public apparently wants to see.

Pakistan has been hit by the Dirilis: Ertugrul story since the Turkish drama began airing on national television, dubbed Urdu. It is the ideal Islamic simulation story, although there is almost no historical evidence that it is true and even its writer has admitted that it is mostly made up. It is packed with religious references and has main characters who are absolutely holier than you, bravely defeating villains without straying from the straight and narrow path of all that is blessed. It's too good to be true, but when it comes to story stories, it seems like that's how the public likes it.

Similarly, Pakistan has fallen in love with Princess Halime. She presents an intoxicating mix: coveted but also destined to be respected, the perfect mother, daughter, and sister, but also Ertugrul's love interest, traditional in appearance but quite capable of fighting for honor and defending against villains. The local public has seen many openly invented glamorous girls. They are already full of long-suffering and pious bahus and prominent insulting protagonists of local dramas. In contrast, Halime is unique. Furthermore, she appeals to popular notions of what a "Muslim" woman should be like, no matter that there is absolutely no historical evidence that she ever existed. She quickly became a sensation.

Also Esra Bilgic, the Turkish actress who plays the character. Esra's appointment in Dirilis: Ertugrul ended in 2018 but, for Pakistan, who has just become familiar with the program, it is Halime.

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Pakistanis are totally in love with Princess Halime and Esra Bilgic, who plays the iconic character in Ertugrul: Ghazi. What does the Turkish actress think of her new celebrity in a country 3,000 miles away?

Her following on social media has suddenly grown with a large influx of Pakistani followers, and since then the comment section has been frequented by many Urdu remarks. Many refer to Esra as Halime, thus passing the litmus test of a truly popular character, where the audience begins to call the actors by their on-screen names.