Russian broadcaster Love Story TV Channel, part of the Tricolor media holding, premiered the Turkish drama «Leyla» on 8 August, adding another successful Turkish production to its programming lineup.
Directed by acclaimed Turkish filmmaker Hilal Saral, the 40-episode psychological melodrama stars Cemre Baysel, Alperen Duymaz, Gonca Vuslateri and Halil Ibrahim Ceyhan.
«Leyla» tells the story of a young woman whose life is shattered after the death of her mother. Her widowed father remarries a beautiful but ruthless woman named Nur, whose cruelty eventually leaves Leyla orphaned and abandoned. While Nur builds a new life through deception and manipulation, Leyla survives against all odds and returns years later determined to take revenge on the woman who destroyed her childhood.
Her carefully planned mission becomes increasingly complicated when she meets and falls in love with Civan, Nur’s charismatic son. As long-buried secrets begin to surface, revenge, love and family loyalty collide, transforming the series into a powerful psychological drama.
Originally launched on Turkish television in September 2024, «Leyla» remained on air for nearly a year, with its final episodes broadcast in the summer of 2025. Filmed entirely in Istanbul, the series achieved strong ratings in Turkey and has since attracted international audiences, including viewers in Russia.
The premiere of «Leyla» on Love Story TV Channel reflects the continuing demand for Turkish scripted drama in Russia. Character-driven stories combining romance, family conflict and emotional suspense remain among the strongest-performing acquisitions for Russian thematic television channels.