Is loving someone for years a sign of patience and loyalty, or does it mean putting one’s own life on hold? In Marriage Is Beautiful, Ferit Aktuğ portrays Ali Rıza, a man who has carried his love for Zeynep within him for years. We spoke with Ferit Aktuğ about Ali Rıza’s emotional conflict following Murat’s return, the vulnerability of a love waiting to be reciprocated, and the line between loving someone and giving yourself up for them.
Ali Rıza is a man who has loved Zeynep for years without expecting anything in return. What do you think keeps him so devoted to this love?
Ali Rıza sees Zeynep as a very natural part of his life. Imagining a future with her has become something woven into his everyday life over the years. His devotion stems not only from his love but also from the hope he continues to hold on to. Not expecting anything in return is not easy either; people naturally want the person they love to notice them. What makes Ali Rıza’s feelings understandable is that he carries that expectation and vulnerability as well.
Murat’s return also affects the future Ali Rıza has imagined with Zeynep. How would you describe the emotional conflict he experiences throughout this process?
Murat’s arrival intensifies Ali Rıza’s fear of losing the possibility he has held on to for so long. He wants to be there for Zeynep, but his own hurt and jealousy also come into play. That is why he cannot always behave as calmly or understandingly as he would like. I love this conflict because it turns Ali Rıza into more than just someone who patiently waits; it makes him a person with flaws and vulnerabilities.
There is great patience and loyalty in Ali Rıza’s love. However, waiting for someone for years can also mean putting your own life on hold. Where do you think the line between patience and losing yourself should be drawn when it comes to love?
You need to consider where that line lies when your own life has come to a complete standstill while you are waiting. You can give someone you love time, but tying all your happiness to the answer they will eventually give you can be exhausting. Moreover, the fact that you have waited for years does not create a debt that the other person has to repay. It is important for Ali Rıza to preserve his own sense of worth alongside his love. Just as he needs to respect Zeynep’s choice, he also needs to take ownership of his own life.
