Aşk-ı Memnu

About the series

Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love) is a Turkish romantic drama produced by Ay Yapım, written by Ece Yörenç and Melek Gençoğlu and directed by Hilal Saral. It aired on Kanal D from 4 September 2008 to 24 June 2010, for two seasons and 79 episodes, and is based on Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil’s classic novel of the same name.

Starring Beren Saat, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Selçuk Yöntem, Nebahat Çehre and Zerrin Tekindor, it broke ratings records in Turkey and became one of the Turkish series that opened the Middle East, the Balkans and Latin America to Turkish drama. Its finale is still remembered as one of the most watched episodes in Turkish television history.

Plot

Bihter, a young woman from a family in financial trouble, marries Adnan Ziyagil, a much older and very wealthy widower, and moves into his grand Bosphorus mansion. There she meets Behlül Haznedar, Adnan’s charming nephew who grew up in the house. A forbidden affair begins between them, with consequences for the whole family, including Adnan’s daughter Nihal, played by Hazal Kaya.

Main cast

• Beren Saat as Bihter Ziyagil
• Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ as Behlül Haznedar
• Selçuk Yöntem as Adnan Ziyagil
• Hazal Kaya as Nihal Ziyagil
• Nebahat Çehre as Firdevs Yöreoğlu

Bihter or Nihal? Vote for your favourite Aşk-ı Memnu characters in our fan polls.