Aras Aydın on ‘Valley of Hearts’ – Exclusive Interview

When you first read Valley of Hearts, what did it make you feel, and what aspects of the project impressed you the most?

Aras Aydın: The project captivated me from the moment I first read its powerful story. I’ve worked with our screenwriter before, and I’ve always admired how she creates deeply layered characters and builds organic stories by constantly testing them. And I absolutely love her novels too. 🙂

Nuh is a good-hearted young man, sometimes a bit quick-tempered, but he also knows how to stand up for himself. People are curious to see how he will handle his feelings for Sevilay. How would you describe Nuh?

Aras Aydın: Nuh is an orphan, who grew up without a mother… His anger actually comes from that. It also comes from his instinct to protect his twin sister, Melek. The fire of revenge that ignites when he meets his mother throws him into a deep dilemma after seeing Sevilay. I think this is the first time Nuh has fallen in love. These emotions are unfamiliar to him, and we’ll see how his pure heart guides him in deciding how far he can go.

Aras Aydın: “I think this is the first time Nuh has fallen in love. These emotions are unfamiliar to him, and we’ll see how his pure heart guides him in deciding how far he can go.”

Nuh and Melek are twins who were abandoned by their mother as babies and now, years later, they confront her to demand answers. Their bond as siblings is very genuine and beautiful, and their story has deeply resonated with the audience. What would you say about Nuh and Melek?

Aras Aydın: I think being a twin is something completely different, a feeling we can’t fully understand. But I do have a sister whom I love very dearly. She’s like a part of my heart… I drew a lot of inspiration from that connection while approaching this twin-sibling relationship. Growing up without parents has brought Nuh and Melek even closer together. They’ve almost become one person. Hafsanur and I made quick progress in this regard, sometimes on set we even end up doing the same thing at the same time. I’m really happy with our partnership and how well we clicked with each other.

Valley of Hearts explores and questions the concepts of motherhood, sibling dynamics, and love from different perspectives. Nuh is one of the central characters to all of these themes. How did you approach these themes when creating Nuh as a character?

Aras Aydın: Yes, the main themes of the series are motherhood, sibling relationships, and love. Nuh understands the concept of sibling bonds, but motherhood and love are very new to him. Even the sibling relationship he knows is limited to Melek. Now, he has new siblings in his life. I’m just as curious to see how his relationship with them will unfold as this dynamic comes into play.

You share intense scenes with Hafsanur Sancaktutan, due to the sibling bond. There’s also a strong love story developing between Nuh and Sevilay (Leyla Tanlar). All of this have resonated with the audience. What would you like to say about your partners?

Aras Aydın: I feel very lucky to have such amazing co-stars. Hafsanur and I just met, but we quickly found a great rhythm together. Leyla is already a friend of mine, and now as Nuh and Sevilay, we’ve developed a strong chemistry. Having such a talented and wonderful partner makes me feel truly fortunate as an actor.

You are in Cappadocia for Valley of Hearts, a truly exceptional place. How is it living and working in Cappadocia?

Aras Aydın: Cappadocia is truly a mesmerizing place. We’ve developed a great harmony on set, and we genuinely enjoy spending time together as a team and having fun. I believe this is not only due to the strength of our story but also the magical atmosphere of Cappadocia.

Valley of Hearts will be introduced at MIPCOM, one of the world’s most important content markets. What would you like to say to your audience in Türkiye and around the world?

Aras Aydın: There’s a well-known concept called the “Turkish dizi,” which has reached a huge audience across a vast region of the world, and I’m really proud of that. We Turks have a way of storytelling and expressing emotions, and Valley of Hearts is a great example of this. MIPCOM is a very important event and being a part of it, reaching a global audience is truly wonderful. With its deep emotions, sorrow, intrigue, and impossible love stories, I believe the series will resonate perfectly with Turkish drama fans.

This interview with Aras Aydın was featured in Episode Magazine’s MIPCOM 2024 issue.