Robert De Niro confirmed the truth about Istanbul 31 years later

New York-born, world‑famous, Oscar‑winning American film actor, director and producer Robert De Niro appeared as a guest on the Turkish program “Filme Gitmeden Önce.” In an interview conducted by Cem Başak, he clarified the long‑standing story that he had gone to nightclubs in Istanbul with police in 1995.

Clarified the 1995 Istanbul Visit

In the interview, Hollywood's master actor Robert De Niro clarified the long‑told story that he had joined night operations with police in Istanbul in 1995, confirming that he indeed went out with Istanbul police.

I Didn't Perform Identity Checks

The famous actor said that that night he watched the police work in nightclubs and observed, stating that he performed no identity checks. In doing so, he confirmed the narrative that he had taken part in Istanbul police operations while clarifying that he was not assigned an active duty.

Why Did He Go to Istanbul?

De Niro explained that this experience in Istanbul was part of the research he conducted for a film project. The actor, who said he was in Istanbul with a writer he had worked with at the time, said that people he knew in the city introduced him to some police officers. De Niro said the police in question were conducting operations targeting nightclubs and that he had accompanied those teams. He emphasized that his goal was not to interfere with the operations but to observe the police work on site.

Commentary on a 'Father Figure' for Travis Bickle

In the interview, De Niro's unforgettable characters from his film career also came up. The actor was asked which of the characters he portrayed needed a good father figure.

De Niro pointed to the Travis Bickle character in the 1976 film 'Taxi Driver'. The actor said that having a good father figure in Bickle's life could help him.

Travis Needed Guidance

Answering a question about who Travis Bickle's parents were, De Niro said the character was left without the guidance he needed. The actor added that more guidance could be beneficial for Bickle.

De Niro's assessment appeared in the interview as a brief yet striking remark about Travis Bickle, one of the most well‑known characters of his career.

"Severance" Character Mark was also in the spotlight.

The same question was also posed to Adam Scott, the actor who plays Mark in "Severance". The actor, who said Mark needs a good father figure, pointed out that there is a mother figure in the character's life, but that relationship does not offer a healthy structure.

The actor, who described Patricia Arquette's portrayal of Mark's mother as manipulative, said that the character could benefit from a father figure.

He Spoke About His Childhood Fears

In the later part of the interview, the actors were asked what frightened them most in their childhood. The "Severance" actor said he was afraid of people entering his home when he was young.

The actor, who said that this fear was linked to frightening content he watched at a very young age, said that the mini‑series 'Atlanta Child Murders' particularly affected him. After the production, he described how he could not sleep for weeks, conveying the extent of the fear he experienced in childhood.

De Niro's fear was classic horror films.

Robert De Niro said that in his childhood years he watched Frankenstein films and the vampire character portrayed by Bela Lugosi. The actor explained that these productions were among the elements that frightened him as a child.

My current nightmare is Donald Trump.

In the final part of the interview, De Niro was asked what frightened him most during his adult life. The famous actor answered by naming U.S. President Donald Trump.

De Niro described Trump as a 'nightmare' of his adult life and said that it was a situation everyone has to grapple with.

The Interview Ended with Thanks

At the end of the interview, Cem Başak concluded the conversation by thanking De Niro and Adam Scott. During the interview, De Niro's field observation with Istanbul police in 1995, the characters in his career, his childhood fears, and his view on Donald Trump were brought up.