The aunts in Ankara beat me with their bags

Actor Taner Rumeli described the creation of the song "Çılgın Türkler" (Crazy Turks) as a spontaneous project born out of a desire to support the national football team. Initially a project by composer Serkan Sönmez involving AI for arrangement and a music video, Rumeli was so impressed by the catchy lyrics that he suggested producing it conventionally. After getting positive feedback from producer Ercan Saatçi, Rumeli, along with Bihter Dinçel, recorded the song voluntarily.

The music video was also created quickly, with Rumeli capturing footage of friends, family, and even scenes from his cousin's wedding, aiming for a sincere and spontaneous feel. The entire process from concept to finished product took about a week. Rumeli, who enjoys playing various musical instruments at home, stated that while he likes football, he prefers its entertaining aspects over fanaticism and has been a lifelong supporter of Fenerbahçe, despite his uncles' attempts to convert him to Beşiktaş.

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We did it for fun. Bihter Dinçel, whose voice is beautiful, we included her. We immediately called and went into the studio. She also liked the song very much.

Rumeli recounted a memorable incident in Ankara where he was physically assaulted by three elderly women with their handbags. They accused him of ruining a girl's life, a reaction stemming from a villainous role he played in 2007. This experience highlights the impact his acting can have on audiences.

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I like football, but I don't like fanaticism. I like the fun side. Whether we win or lose, we are fans.

Reflecting on his theater work, Rumeli, an Ankara DTCF acting graduate, mentioned the successful revival of the play "Sersem Kocanın Kurnaz Karısı" (The Cunning Wife of a Foolish Husband), which he first performed 20 years prior. Despite initial plans for only 10 performances, the play's popularity has led to its continuation into the next season. Rumeli expressed a commitment to "art for the people," observing that audiences are sometimes hesitant to attend theater if well-known TV actors are not involved, prompting him to take his performances directly to the audience, including international festivals in Germany and Paris.

He also touched upon the rise of short-form vertical series, noting his participation in a project with 62 episodes, each lasting about 2.5 minutes. Despite initial reservations, Rumeli found the experience rewarding, with some episodes garnering millions of views on social media, indicating a growing trend in digital content consumption.

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I am for art for the people. I observe that the audience is moving away from the theater. The play requires TV recognition. If there is no TV celebrity, the play does not fill up.