'Turkey isn't all romance,' says actor Ashwath after being robbed
What's the story
Indian actor Ashwath Bhatt recently became a victim of a violent robbery while vacationing in Istanbul, Turkey.
The incident took place on Sunday evening while Bhatt was walking toward the popular tourist spot, Galata Tower in the Beyoglu district.
Despite being warned about pickpockets in the area, the actor was unprepared for the severity of the attack.
He shared his experience in an interview with ETimes, detailing the unexpected encounter.
Details
'Before I could fully comprehend...he hit me on the back'
Bhatt was walking toward the Galata Tower when a man approached him, wielding a chain.
The actor stated, "He had a chain in his hand, and before I could fully comprehend what was happening, he hit me on the back with it."
"In retrospect, it was likely a gang working in tandem, trying to snatch my bag...for a second, I was so shocked—what's happening? But I think they weren't expecting me to resist and put up a fight."
Intervention
Bhatt recalled how a cab driver intervened and helped
Bhatt managed to resist the attack, which he believes caught the robber off guard.
"I think they weren't expecting me to resist," he said, adding, "While he [robber] was trying to snatch my bag, a cab driver stopped and intervened."
"The robber said something in Turkish and then fled. The cab driver saw my wound and immediately told me to go to the police."
Crime reporting
Actor emphasized the importance of reporting such incidents
Bhatt expressed his shock and disappointment at the incident, especially as it occurred in a popular tourist area.
"People watch films and think Turkey is all romantic, but if we don't report crime, these incidents will only increase."
He added, "Everybody warned me about pickpockets, but this was beyond anything I had imagined. I've been to the Middle East, Egypt, and so many parts of Europe, and nothing like this has ever happened to me."
Police complaint
Bhatt's complaint yet to be filed
Following the attack, Bhatt approached a patrol car but was directed to a police station to register his complaint.
The report is yet to be filed, he mentioned during the interview.
Meanwhile, for those unfamiliar, Bhatt has appeared in a range of notable films.
These include Bollywood films such as IB71, Mission Majnu, Sita Ramam, Raaz Reboot, Rakkhosh, Raazi, Phantom, Kesari, and Haider.