Prime Minister Imran Khan has reminded the nation about his initial thoughts on Turkish historical drama series Dirilis: Ertugrul, being aired on state-run television with Urdu dubbing.

During an interview with a private TV, PM Imran Khan said, “I warned against copying the west and Bollywood alike but people said this is what the public wants to watch. Ertugrul is also one of the most widely watched series, it doesn’t have any obscenity.”

Often described as a 'Turkish Game of Thrones', Dirilis has a vast and obsessive worldwide fan following in 60-plus countries. Apart from diaspora Muslims in the west, the show has gained sweeping popularity in the Middle East, South Africa and surprisingly in South America.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Madura is an avid fan and was seen happily wearing the hat of a Turkish warrior or Alp on a recent visit to the sets.

The writer and creator of Dirilis, Mehmet Bozdag is an acclaimed filmmaker with links to Turkey’s conservative ruling AKP party, and it is his ability to combine a deeper message of traditional Islamic beliefs with the swashbuckling story of a hero fighting against all odds that is the heart of its success.

The drama series has smashed previous television records in Pakistan since it started airing on PTV.