“I am aware of the pressure on women to always look perfect. It’s important to stay true to who you are as a person. Young girls look up to their screen idols and want to imitate them. I want to tell them that nobody’s perfect. Every woman is beautiful and distinct.”
One of Turkey’s biggest stars, Hande Erçel has a whopping 31.8M followers on Instagram, making her one of the most influential names in the Turkish film and TV industry.In her first visit to India for FICCI Frames 2024, we caught up with the actress in Mumbai for an in-depth exclusive chat and even made her try the city’s iconic cutting chai! Deeply observant and excited about her first visit here, though it’s just for 4 days, Ercel spoke about Indian cinema, beauty standards for women, social media and more. Excerpts…
Turkish heartthrob Burak Deniz was here last year for this event and this year it’s you. Did you speak with him before getting here?
Yes, we spoke. He loved the food and he talked about it a lot. What struck him the most about India was the kindness and warmth in people here. They are extremely loving and it’s true. I was aware that people knew me here but didn’t know I was this popular. This is my first time here. I had heard a lot about Indian culture, people, and music. I had so much curiosity and wonder about India and the country surpassed my expectations. The weather’s good and I like bright sunshine over cold conditions, so this is perfect. It’s a short visit, but I went to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and liked it. I also hope to visit the famous Ganpati temple (Shree Siddhivinayak) and Dhobi Ghat in the city. It won’t happen this time but it’s a dream to witness the The Taj Mahal in Agra. It’s gorgeous.
Hande Erçel poses for BT lens in Mumbai
Are you familiar with Indian cinema?
I loved watching this film called Black (by Sanjay Leela Bhansali). I like Indian actors a lot, too. I like Dev Patel (British actor of Indian origin) and Hrithik Roshan. I know Ranveer Singh and of course Aamir Khan, who is big in Turkey. I enjoyed PK and 3 Idiots. Not many people know this, but I keep listening to Bollywood songs on set while shooting. You’ll always find Bollywood music on my playlist. I would love to collaborate with Indian filmmakers.
You are one of the most followed Turkish actors on Instagram. Is that a pressure sometimes? To be constantly watched and judged.
It’s good pressure. It makes me more thoughtful, responsible, and inspirational by wanting to do good things for people. I ensure I separate my private and professional life. That can help you strike a balance between how much of you you put out there. I like to be sincere instead of putting on a mask and present a different persona online. It’s important to stay true to who you are as a person. I am aware of the pressure on women to always look perfect. Young girls look up to their screen idols and want to imitate them. That’s why I try to be as natural and organic on social media. I want to tell them that nobody’s perfect. Every woman is beautiful and distinct. We radiate beauty due to the light and warmth we have within, which matters the most. Believe in yourself.
Hande Erçel poses for BT lens in Mumbai
Any person that you look up to?
Cate Blanchett is inspirational as an actor and a person. I like the way Anne Hathaway carries herself and most importantly my mother is my idol.
What are your thoughts on marriage?
Everything has a time. I believe in marriage. I would love to have kids and bring them up in a way that they do good for society.
