What is this world capable of? Robert de Niro, whose acting I admire from films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Godfather II, The Godfather, No Limits, and many more—and who, in my opinion, can pull off any role—chatted with my twin brother Baran last week and sent his regards to my father.
After watching the video on Baran’s social media, I called him and asked how he managed to do such a thing. I congratulated him.
He told me his story: While networking with Robert de Niro during his stay in New York, he met him. When the idea of opening a Nobu restaurant in Istanbul came up, this acquaintance turned into a friendship and a business partnership. Our Baran was the first guest Robert de Niro welcomed into his home after knee surgery during the pandemic.
Affinity that surprised even de Niro’s driver
Baran describes this conversation as follows:
5-6 days before arriving in New York, during a Zoom meeting, I told Robert de Niro I was coming to New York, and he said, “Stay at our hotel,” and made a reservation for me. I stayed at Robert de Niro’s Greenwich Hotel in New York, and they didn’t charge me at checkout. I’d been to his restaurant, Locanda Verde, before, but this was the first time I’d stayed at his hotel.
As his driver picked me up from his hotel and took me to his house, the following conversation took place in the car:
– Are you Robert de Niro’s doctor?
– No, I’m not. We’re doing business together.
– Have you become a partner in Nobu?
– No, I haven’t become a partner in Nobu. We’re preparing to open a Nobu restaurant in Istanbul.
The driver, surprised, said to Baran, “Bob (they call him Bob for short, not Robert) doesn’t normally see anyone, and I was very surprised that he invited you to his house like this, especially the day after such an operation. He clearly means a lot to me.”
First the ‘sake,’ then the rakı ceremony.
When they met afterward, the Oscar-winning actor, who loved Turkey and expressed his curiosity about Nobu Istanbul, accepted Baran’s invitation and said he would come to Istanbul. Furthermore, he announced that he would attend a special ‘sake ceremony’ at Nobu when he arrived. So, we’re expecting Robert de Niro in Istanbul in October. In addition to the sake ceremony, which I’m sure will be fun, I hope to organize a rakı and fish ceremony for him in Istanbul on another day.
And his son is the same age as us, and he’ll introduce Baran to him next time. Two weeks later, he has a horseback riding scene in his new film. We’re talking about a 77-year-old actor filming a horseback riding scene shortly after knee surgery. Legends don’t come easy.
A heartfelt video greeting
During their meeting, Robert de Niro suggested to Baran, “Let’s shoot a video together,” and they shot the video below:
As you can see in this video, in his genuine and unique style, he greets my father, praises his friendship with Baran, and wishes him, “I hope we can work on a great project together in Istanbul.”
I couldn’t believe what I saw and heard; I was so proud of my brother. The network Baran has built over the years in New York isn’t something that can be bought with money. None of the hundreds of wealthy Turkish businesspeople who have moved from Turkey to New York or Miami have the same network as Baran. Robert de Niro is a prime example. He’s either acquainted with or friends with many of the people you admire on television or read about. Hats off to my brother for networking.
About Nobu Restaurant
Now, let’s talk about the preparations for the Istanbul opening of the legendary Nobu Restaurant, which has spread globally from New York.
For those who don’t know, let me quickly explain. Nobu, the iconic Japanese restaurant founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert de Niro, and Meir Teper, continues to grow with numerous restaurants in the most exclusive locations worldwide and a collection of 12 magnificent Nobu Hotels. With its striking atmosphere and constantly evolving, distinctive menu, Nobu continues to attract fans worldwide.
Nobu is preparing to open its doors in Istanbul for the first time, located within the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul Hotel, in a magnificent panoramic setting with a Bosphorus view. The soft opening is planned for early July, and the grand opening will be in October. All of Nobu’s founders and senior management will attend the October opening.
Undertaking such an investment during the pandemic, while all restaurants are suffering, takes great courage. I congratulate Baran and my father on this. Bringing a brand like Nobu to Istanbul is also the most enjoyable part of the job. It will undoubtedly contribute to Istanbul’s brand value. I wish them long-term success.
We’re excitedly awaiting Robert de Niro in Istanbul. We’ll see if we can make him enjoy rakı alongside sake. Of course, I’m using the “Saki-Rakı” comparison here as a metaphor. The real goal is to make him love Turkey.
A humorous promotional film with Federer
Having said this, I’m reminded of the Swiss promotional film Robert de Niro starred in with Roger Federer. I’m sharing it below for your visualization:
Robert de Niro, who says Switzerland is too calm and too perfect, tells Roger Federer that he can’t star in the Swiss promotional film, explaining that as an actor, he wants drama, and that’s the only way he can showcase his talents. Finally, he cracks a joke: “If you want to make a peaceful video, maybe you could call Hanks (Tom Hanks).”
An invitation to the delights of drama
I have a few words on this subject, mixed with a bit of humor: Come to Turkey, my friend. We’re experiencing the drama here every day. While it’s a beautiful country with its food, culture, and people, it also faces challenges you wouldn’t even consider in America. So, here we have all kinds of colors, good and bad. You’ll achieve your best acting in Turkey. See you in October, dear Robert de Niro.
Tag: memoir
