Rich and Poor (Zengin ve Yoksul) is a Turkish romance and drama series that premiered on ATV in 2019. Directed by Deniz Yorulmazer and produced by O3 Medya, the series tells the story of two cousins who grow up in completely different worlds one rich and one poor. Through themes of love, revenge, family conflicts, and social inequality, the drama explores how wealth and poverty can shape people’s lives and relationships.
TV Series Details
| Details | Information |
| Original Title | Zengin ve Yoksul |
| English Title | Rich and Poor |
| Genre | Romance, Drama |
| Director | Deniz Yorulmazer |
| Writers | Yelda Eroglu, Hatice Meryem, Mert Mericli, Birol Elginoz |
| Production Company | O3 Medya |
| Network | ATV |
| Episodes | 8 |
| Broadcast Period | April 7, 2019 – May 26, 2019 |
| Episode Length | 130–140 Minutes |
| Filming Location | Üsküdar, Istanbul, Türkiye |
Synopsis
Aysel Taştan is a young woman who has spent her entire life struggling with poverty. Growing up, she often wore the old clothes of her wealthy cousin Aleyna and lived in the shadow of her rich relatives. Determined to build a better future through her own efforts, Aysel refuses to depend on her wealthy family.
Everything changes when she meets Karan, a handsome and mysterious man who returns to Istanbul seeking revenge against the powerful businessman Aziz Erdemli. Karan believes that Aziz is responsible for his father’s tragic death and plans to destroy the Erdemli family by making Aleyna fall in love with him and then breaking her heart.
Meanwhile, Aysel learns painful truths about her sister Nihal and Aziz. Fueled by anger and disappointment, she joins Karan’s revenge plan. As their scheme unfolds, love, family ties, betrayal, and ambition become intertwined. Both Aysel and Karan soon discover that revenge comes at a high cost and that their own hearts may become the biggest casualties of all.
Main Cast
| Actor | Character |
| Gökhan Alkan | Karan |
| Damla Colbay | Aysel Taştan |
| Elif Doğan | Aleyna Erdemli |
| Binnur Kaya | Berrin Taştan |
| Osman Sonant | Aziz Erdemli |
| Gülcan Arslan | Nihal Taştan |
| Evrim Solmaz | Meral Erdemli |
| Eren Hacısalihoğlu | Emir |
| Tuna Orhan | Veli Taştan |
| Mert Asker | Salih |
| Sacide Taşaner | Nefise Erdemli |
| Veda Yurtsever | Sema |
Additional Cast
The series also features several supporting characters who contribute to the conflicts between the Taştan and Erdemli families. These characters help develop the themes of social class differences, family loyalty, and revenge throughout the story.
Characters
Karan
Karan is a smart and determined young man who returns from London after his father’s death. Believing that Aziz Erdemli caused his father’s suicide, he dedicates himself to revenge. His plan is to make Aleyna fall in love with him and then leave her heartbroken. However, his growing feelings and emotional struggles make his mission far more complicated than he expected.
Aysel Taştan
Aysel is a hardworking and independent young woman who has suffered from poverty since childhood. She is tired of being treated as inferior by her wealthy relatives and wants to create her own future. Her desire for justice eventually leads her to join Karan’s revenge plan.
Aleyna Erdemli
Aleyna is the wealthy daughter of Aziz and Meral Erdemli. She has grown up with privilege and luxury but remains kind-hearted. Unaware of the revenge plot surrounding her, she becomes the central target of Karan’s plan and finds herself caught in a web of secrets and betrayal.
Aziz Erdemli
Aziz is a powerful businessman and the head of the Erdemli family. As the CEO of a successful construction company, he is ambitious, ruthless, and driven by power. His actions create many of the conflicts that fuel the story.
Nihal Taştan
Nihal is Aysel’s older sister. She dreams of escaping poverty and living a luxurious life. Her relationship with Aziz Erdemli becomes one of the key reasons behind the conflict between the two families and motivates Aysel’s desire for revenge.
Berrin Taştan
Berrin is the mother of Aysel and Nihal. She struggles financially and constantly hopes for a better life. She believes that marrying into wealth is the best way for her daughters to escape poverty.
Meral Erdemli
Meral is Aziz’s wife and Aleyna’s mother. Despite living a wealthy life, she suffers from loneliness and emotional pain due to her husband’s behavior. As the truth about Aziz’s actions comes to light, she begins to stand up for herself and her family.
Emir
Emir is a successful lawyer who works closely with the Erdemli family. His involvement in the lives of Aysel and Aleyna creates additional emotional tension and conflict throughout the series.
Read: Judgement (Yargi) TV Series.
Rich and Poor (Zengin ve Yoksul) is an engaging Turkish drama that combines romance, revenge, family conflict, and social inequality. Through the contrasting lives of Aysel and Aleyna, the series examines the emotional impact of wealth and poverty while delivering a compelling story filled with love, betrayal, and personal growth. With strong performances and an emotional storyline, the series remains a memorable drama for fans of Turkish television.