Khaberni - The name of the famous Turkish series "Forbidden Love" (Aşk-ı Memnu) has come back into the spotlight, after news spread on social media about MBC's intention to produce an Arabic version of the series by 2026, as part of the wave of Arabization of Turkish drama that has gained wide popularity in recent years.
However, local media have confirmed that this news is still in the realm of rumors, indicating that there are no official announcements or confirmed production steps related to the Arabization of the series at this moment.
Another Rumor
The circulation of the Arabization news coincided with the spreading of names of several artists described as potential leads for the supposed version, including Maxim Khalil in the role of "Mohannad" and Sara Baraka in the role of "Samar", alongside other names to embody the character "Adnan Bey", but these nominations were also described as inaccurate and not based on reliable information.
"Forbidden Love" is one of the most famous and influential Turkish romantic series, as it achieved high viewership rates in Turkey and the Arab world when it premiered in 2009, enjoying exceptional popularity since its first airing.
The series narrates a complicated love story that breaks social taboos, involving Samar and Mohannad within a family governed by the contradiction between traditional values and repressed desires.
In contrast, the success achieved by Arabized Turkish series in the past years has heightened audience expectations of the possibility of re-presenting the work in Arabic, especially after works like Bride of Beirut, Stiletto, The Agent, and Crystal, topped the viewership lists.
The Story of "Forbidden Love"
The series "Forbidden Love" is based on a novel of the same name by Turkish writer Halid Ziya Uşaklıgil, which was written between 1899 and 1900. It was first adapted into a television series in 1970 in just six episodes, before being presented in a modern version with contemporary events.
The story centers around the rich businessman "Adnan Bey" who falls in love with a young woman named Samar, and marries her despite the age difference, trying to integrate her into his family's life. However, things become complicated when an emotional relationship develops between her and Mohannad, the young man who lives in the house and is considered as a son to the family, leading to a series of conflicts and collapses within the family.
From Series to Film
More than 13 years later, "Forbidden Love" was presented again in a cinematic format through the film "Bihter", which carried the name of the heroine in the Arabic dubbed version, featuring a number of stars of Turkish drama, in a re-reading of the famous story from a different perspective.
