A True Gentleman is the new Netflix movie that shows that being a true gentleman requires honesty and respect, and sometimes men lack those things, which is especially clear with the protagonist of the story, Saygın. From this cast and character guide, we will see how he and Kadir strived to become true gentlemen to the women of the movie.
Spoilers Ahead
Saygın
Saygın, played by Çağatay Ulusoy who was driven by both his trauma and his desire for security. After losing his mother in a fire at a young age, Saygın and his brother Kadir were left to fend for themselves, and that tragedy shaped his entire life as he became desperate for safety and comfort, which he thought he could only find through wealth and luxury. This hunger for money made him a male escort, as it was easy to sleep with rich, lonely women and make money, and he convinced himself that by charming them and making them feel special, he could secure the life he never had. So, Saygın understood these women, made them feel valued, and in return, they showered him with money. But even though this lifestyle offered him luxury, deep down, he was still lost. When one of his wealthiest clients named Serap promised to give him a luxury home and expensive car if he left his escort job and became hers exclusively, he thought he had found what he wanted. And that is why Saygın strived to be the “true gentleman,” who agreed to Serap’s terms and wanted to be loyal, to keep his promise. But then he fell in love, which complicated everything.
At Serap’s party, Saygın met Nehir, and from their very first conversation, he was head over heels. The way she sang a beloved song from his childhood and the deep conversations they shared about life, fireworks, and pasta, it was clear to him that this connection was real. He risked taking her home on Fulya’s birthday when she was drunk, even though Saygin knew he was not allowed to, just because he couldn’t let Nehir go alone, and wanted to take care of her. They went on a movie date afterward where they watched a film close to his heart from his childhood. Then, when her dorm caught fire, Saygın rushed to protect her as he was afraid to lose her just like he’d lost his mother. It looked like Nehir filled a space in his heart that wealth and luxury never could. But Saygın was confused because he had made a promise to Serap, and he wanted to keep it, though he didn’t want to disappoint either woman, so he hid the truth from both by trying to juggle the two relationships. Maybe, deep down, it was because Saygın himself was lonely and desperate for love. But as he tried to keep both women, he ultimately ended up losing both of them.
Apart from this complicated love triangle, Saygın had always been deeply connected to his brother, Kadir, and wanted to be his protector. When Kadir began to fall in with the wrong crowd, used cocaine to cope, and tried to live up to the high-energy demands of their business, Saygın was always worried about him. Saygin gave Kadir his old clients, and taught him how to charm these wealthy women, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t save his brother from himself. Saygın even made room for Kadir in his house to keep an eye on him, but when Kadir ultimately committed suicide, it broke Saygın completely even more, and he felt more alone than ever. But Saygın didn’t give up, as three years later, he turned his life around, as the flashy lifestyle no longer appealed to him. Instead, he became a chef and opened a restaurant with the money he had made, and in that restaurant, he met Nehir again. It looked like fate had brought them together again and he still loved her. Maybe there is still hope for them, as Saygın had grown, learned from his mistakes, and was ready to be a true gentleman, so if he could show Nehir that he had truly changed, then maybe they could have a future together.
Kadir
Kadir, played by Haki Biçici, was the complete opposite of his brother Saygın. While Saygın was a natural at charming women, Kadir wasn’t, and he tried too hard to impress women. But Kadir had a good heart and he was deeply grateful to Saygın, who had always looked out for him. Saygın had passed down his old clients and taught Kadir the tricks of how to talk to these wealthy women, and how to make them feel beautiful and seen. Kadir looked up to his brother to learn it all. One moment that really showed Kadir’s good side was when he was hired by Serap to make her daughter, Fulya, feel special on her birthday, which showed how he genuinely cared about making people feel good. But Kadir’s life took a dark turn when he started mixing with the wrong crowd. Kadir’s story is heartbreaking because you can see how hard he tried to live up to the expectations to handle the demands of the escort world. His addiction to cocaine got worse, and it affected his mental health deeply. By the end of the narrative, Kadir failed to cope with the pressure anymore and died by a drug overdose.
Serap
Played by beautiful Turkish actor Şenay Gürler, Serap is a rich woman who seems to have everything; money, luxury, and a beautiful house, but what she truly craved was love and attention, as she did not get that from her husband, which left her feeling lonely and undesired. It’s a clear case of “money can’t buy you happiness”. To fill that void, Serap turned to Saygın as she wasn’t just looking for someone to spend time with; she needed to feel seen, loved, and valued. Saygın, with his charm and attention, gave her that for a while. But Serap wanted more than just moments of affection, and wanted a man who would be hers exclusively and would stay by her side always. That’s why she offered Saygın money, a luxurious house, and an expensive car and in exchange, all she asked for was his loyalty and love. When Saygın agreed to her terms, Serap was really happy, as she believed she finally had the security she was searching for. But she saw after a while things changed because She would call Saygın, and he wouldn’t answer and slowly, it became clear that he wasn’t loyal to her. The thought of being cheated on again hurt her again and she felt more alone when she found out she had cervical cancer. She thought she had no one to hold and cry support, despite all the luxury around her. Yet, when Saygın did come to see her, she felt a small sense of comfort, but deep down, Serap knew that money couldn’t buy the love she so desperately wanted. Her suspicions were confirmed when Serap realized that Saygın was in love with Nehir. Serap felt betrayed, not just by him but by life itself.
Nehir
Nehir, portrayed by Ebru Şahin, was the very girl Saygin fell in love with. She was a beautiful singer, composer, and writer. She made Saygin feel loved and valued, and thought he was the love of her life. However, she later realized that maybe he wasn’t, as Saygin betrayed her trust and love by being with another woman. Ultimately, she broke up with Saygin to protect herself. But three years later, she met a changed man in Saygin, at his own restaurant. Maybe there is still hope in their relationship if he proves to be a true gentleman to her.
Fulya
Fulya, played by Nazlı Bulum, was Serap’s daughter, and unlike her best friend Nehir, she didn’t feel confident or beautiful. It wasn’t out of jealousy, but she also wanted to attract men the way she saw Nehir do, though she struggled with her own insecurities. So, when Kadir showed her affection and brought a smile to her face on her birthday, it genuinely made her happy as it was one of the first times she felt noticed and special. Despite her own insecurities, Fulya was a true girl’s girl, as she always supported her best friend Nehir, stood by her, and showed concern when Nehir fell in love with Saygın. Fulya suspected that Saygın wasn’t being honest and had a feeling he was hiding something, so she wanted to protect Nehir from potential heartbreak.
