But I have a dilemma. On the one hand, I’d love to see him up close, in reality, not just on the screen. On the other hand, I want to meet the real Engin, not just his polished, official version.
But how? Is it even possible?
The answer to the question of whether it is possible to meet him is: yes. After all, many fans have managed to do so. However, I fear that the “real” Engin may forever remain beyond our reach. That doesn’t change the fact that seeing him in person is possible. All it takes is a bit of determination, the right amount of money, and some luck – or good connections. Most importantly, if we want to increase our chances, we need to head to Turkey. Unfortunately, Engin is rather reluctant to stretch his long legs beyond the country's borders, so hoping to meet him anywhere else is almost as realistic as expecting snow in July.
So, Turkey it is—preferably Istanbul (though, the coastal town of Kaş is also a good bet if you happen to be there at the same time as him).
So, you travel to Turkey and then what? There are a few ways to meet him, though none of them seem ideal...
1) The “Birthday” Fan Meeting
This used to be an option—fans would organize charity events for Engin’s birthday, and donors were entered into a lottery. A few lucky winners would receive a top-secret invitation to meet their idol. All it took was a donation to a Turkish charity and a bit of luck.
However, I found it hard to convince myself that Turkey should be the beneficiary of my philanthropy. I admire and respect the fan-organized birthday initiatives, but... I have my reservations.
Even regarding the meeting itself—sure, I’d see Engin up close, take a picture with him, get an autograph, and maybe even ask him a question. But would I see the real Engin?
Probably not. I’d see a handsome man with a charming smile, patiently posing for photos, signing autographs, and embracing fans. Sounds wonderful, but let’s not forget—he’s an actor. If needed, he can act here too.
Besides, since the pandemic, these meetings have only happened twice—and only online! I have a feeling Engin won’t be returning to in-person events, even though the charity initiatives continue. So, the chances of seeing him at such an event are minimal.
Online meetings seem more likely to me, as they are much less demanding for Engin – they are short and do not require any physical effort on his part, such as travelling to the meeting location or signing photos. At the same time, a larger number of fans can participate in such an event, regardless of where they live.
However, the lack of physical presence makes the experience less intense than an in-person meeting. You can’t take a live photo with Engin or get his autograph in a traditional form.
Regardless of the pros and cons of such a meeting, it would be up to Engin to decide whether to organize it. But would he even want to? That’s a whole different story…
2) Book Promotion Events
At these events, Engin appears as an author, not an actor—though the organization of these meetings doesn’t always reflect that.
But at least anyone can attend. No need to donate money or rely on a lottery—just show up and buy his book. Simple, right? Well… almost.
Then comes hours of waiting in line for your brief moment with the idol. And by “brief,” I mean very brief. The format is simple: hand over the book with your name written on a sticky note, mumble in Turkish where you’re from, maybe attempt a question in English—hoping he understands and responds. A quick photo, and… “Next, please.” Like an assembly line in the factory of dreams.
Though, I do have an idea how to extend the encounter—what if I gave him a name so difficult to write that he’d have to focus? Something like Strzeżysława, Mścisława, or Przybysława. He’d struggle to spell it correctly, maybe even get curious about how to pronounce it. And then—aha!—I could give him a mini Polish phonetics lesson!
But… what would I do with a book signed “Sevgili Strzeżysława”? And what would my future grandchildren think when they found it?
All in all, a book signing sounds tempting because it offers the best chance of seeing Engin in person—if you have time, patience, and strong legs for standing in line. But is it truly fulfilling? Is a quick handshake, a fleeting photo, and an autograph really the dream?
Besides, we won’t see the real Engin here either. He’ll be in his “polite and smiling” mode, flashing grins until his jaw hurts and signing books until his hand cramps. And if you’re at the end of the line… well, you might just get a signature that looks like a mysterious hieroglyph.
Then again—maybe it’s better to experience something, even briefly, than to never try at all.
3) Visiting a Film Set
Sounds simple, but in reality, it requires a lot of luck, patience, and maybe a deal with the universe. Even if you know the filming locations, you never know when or where Engin will actually show up.
You could stubbornly show up at the same spot every day, hoping he appears before your Istanbul trip ends. Or, for a premium option, you could hire a translator, guide, or driver with the right connections to take you there with a 90% chance of success.
But if I were to spend money on meeting my idol, I’d rather use it for sightseeing—or donate it to charity.
Another challenge? Getting to some filming locations can be a real journey. For example, Behnam’s mansion from Adım Farah was practically on the other side of Istanbul, requiring an hour (or more) of travel.
Some fans don’t mind, and they’ve managed to “hunt down” Engin in the most remote corners of the city. As for me, I prefer discovering these places on Google Maps rather than in person.
Besides, I’d feel like I was disturbing him at work. I wouldn’t want to be the annoying fly that the film crew subtly (or not so subtly) tries to shoo away.
From well-informed sources close to Engin, he doesn’t particularly enjoy fan visits on set. But interestingly, fans who have made it there report the opposite—he still charms with his smile and radiates positive energy.
Well, he’s an actor and in his element on set!
To sum up, visiting a film set is possible, but it requires detective-level investigation (or a well-paid guide). The commute can take forever, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be there. The chances are low, but for the persistent, it’s doable.
4) A Random Encounter
This is like winning the lottery! Even journalists struggle to track him down.
They usually “catch” him at premieres or galas—but he rarely attends such events. Sometimes he’s spotted outside a restaurant on Istanbul’s Asian side.
We know he has his favorite spots, and fans flock there. Restaurants like Bedri Usta, Midpoint, and bookstores like D&R and Penguen on Bağdat Caddesi are just a few. The problem? He hasn’t been seen at Bedri Usta in ages. Meanwhile, the list of new places he frequents keeps growing.
Engin, like a cat, walks his own paths—usually around Bağdat Caddesi or the coastal route from Atatürk Park (Kalamış) to Caddebostan Sahil. Bağdat Caddesi is great for those who love bustling places, restaurants and shopping, while the seaside route is perfect for those who love peace and quiet, nature and sea. Plus, it’s a healthy walk – about 10 km!
But… here’s the problem. When you’re strolling down Bağdat Caddesi, Engin might be taking photos by the sea. And when you head to the seaside, he might be sitting in a restaurant on Bağdat Caddesi. Or, let’s take the worst scenario – he might just be at home, chilling with his cat Sefa.
And let’s not forget one more important factor: while you’re walking, he might just hop into a taxi and disappear.
But let’s imagine, for a moment, that luck is on your side! You’re strolling down Bağdat Caddesi and suddenly see a tall, dark-haired man with familiar features. What do you do?
Do you run toward him shouting, “Engin Bey!”? Do you hug him, ruffle his hair, and make him bend down for a double kiss on the cheeks? Then pull out a stack of books and photos for him to sign?
Sounds like a dream scenario? Maybe, but not for me.
So what would I do if I met him while out for a walk or at a restaurant? Well, that’s the thing—I’m not entirely sure.
What I’d love most is a conversation, but there’s another problem. My Turkish is what it is, and apparently, his English isn’t great either, so talking could be a real challenge. In the end, I might have to settle for just a smile, a quick photo, and storing the moment in my memory—and maybe on Instagram or Facebook, because if it doesn’t make it to social media, did it even happen? ;)
Of course, that’s assuming I’d have the courage to go for it, without any hesitation about, say, interrupting him in a restaurant—while he’s reading, writing his next short story… or simply enjoying his tea or kebab.
Or maybe I should take a different approach? Skip the photo and autograph, just admire him from a safe distance, and truly see the real Engin?
Either way, if you’re hoping to meet your idol, it’s best to have a strategy in mind—so that when the moment comes, you don’t just freeze like a statue, wondering what to do.
In summary, a random encounter is theoretically possible, but about as likely as winning the lottery. Your chances are slim—but hey, miracles do happen.
THE VERDICT
Meeting Engin in real life is a dream that can come true, but it requires patience, luck, and a good plan. The sine qua non condition is a trip to Istanbul, where we can try to "hunt him down" in his favourite spots or on a film set. Proper preparation is key—so that in case of an unexpected encounter, our IQ doesn’t drop to zero and we don’t end up looking like Lot’s wife with dreamy eyes.
Official fan meetings are mostly a thing of the past. An online meeting, if it were to happen, allows you to see our star but not to have a real, direct encounter. The best chance to see Engin nowadays is at book promotions, though even those take place in a limited format. The upside, however, is that in such a setting, we are not disturbing our idol or invading his privacy.
Ultimately, everything depends on what we expect from meeting Engin. If a photo and autograph are enough, then it’s relatively simple. It gets trickier if we dream of having a conversation— —language barriers and plain awkwardness can make it quite difficult.
So, what to do? Look for him or not? It’s always worth a try! Keep your fingers crossed, stay alert, and hope that one day, Engin will cross your path. And if not? Well, there’s always Google Maps, dreams… and his projects.
