Boran Kuzum: 'I Faced My Biggest Fear and Found Freedom'

Boran Kuzum, a rising star in Turkish cinema, has opened up about profound personal experiences that have shaped his career and outlook. In a candid interview, Kuzum revealed that the loss of his father, Bora Kuzum, was the most significant turning point in his life. This profound grief, he explained, paradoxically liberated him from his deepest fears, empowering him to embrace new challenges and seek opportunities beyond Turkey's borders.

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After experiencing my biggest fear, nothing scares me that much anymore. This process gave me the courage to start over abroad and great freedom.

This newfound courage has propelled Kuzum onto the international stage, where he is now a key figure in the American production "Big Mistakes." He expressed pride in being one of the first Turkish actors to secure such a prominent role in a US-based project. Demonstrating his commitment to cultural representation, Kuzum shared that he intentionally infused his character with nuances of Turkish heritage, citing the gesture of kissing an elder's hand as an example of the subtle yet meaningful details he sought to include.

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I especially wanted to add details like kissing the hand and placing it on the forehead, which are part of our culture; representation is very important to me.

Beyond his international endeavors, Kuzum reaffirmed his deep affection for his hometown, Ankara, which he considers his "red line." He contrasted Ankara's unique, perhaps solitary, charm with Istanbul's more superficial social scene, suggesting that the capital city offers a different kind of connection. He also touched upon his personal life, acknowledging a tendency towards possessiveness and jealousy within relationships, which he manages internally, and his strong preference for solitude.

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Ankara is a city that those without friends cannot understand. In Istanbul, it matters where you go, not who you are with.