Birkan Sokullu: Biography, Age, Career, Wife, TV Shows, Net Worth & More

Birkan Sokullu built one of the more unusual paths to Turkish television stardom. He spent a decade on the basketball court before a leg injury pushed him toward modelling, and modelling eventually opened the door to acting. That door never closed again.

Today, he’s best known for roles in Küçük Sırlar, Masumlar Apartmanı, and Kurt Seyit ve Şura — three very different shows that show off just how wide his range actually is. He’s played a moody teenager, a conflicted family man, and a period-drama romantic lead, often within the same decade.

This guide walks through his early life, his career shift from sports to screen, his most memorable roles, and what’s known about his personal life and net worth. Every detail here comes from verified public sources, so you’re getting a clear picture rather than recycled guesswork.

Birkan Sokullu Quick Facts

Category	Detail
Full Name	Birkan Sokullu
Date of Birth	October 6, 1985
Age	40 (as of 2026)
Birthplace	Istanbul, Turkey
Nationality	Turkish (of Bosnian descent)
Profession	Actor, former model, former professional basketball player
Height	Approximately 187 cm (6’1″), per industry profiles
Education	Maltepe University, Radio and TV Programming
Years Active	2008–present
Known For	Küçük Sırlar, Masumlar Apartmanı, Kurt Seyit ve Şura
Relationship Status	In a relationship with Eda Gürkaynak
Net Worth (Estimated)	Not officially confirmed; some outlets estimate around $2 million

Who Is Birkan Sokullu?

Birkan Sokullu is a Turkish actor whose career took shape almost by accident. He didn’t grow up dreaming of acting — basketball had that spot locked down for years. When an injury ended his playing days, modelling became a practical next step, and it was through modelling that casting directors first noticed him.

He landed his breakout role as Demir in Küçük Sırlar, the Turkish adaptation of Gossip Girl, and has spent the years since building a résumé that spans teen dramas, period pieces, family sagas, and even a vampire series. What makes his career worth following isn’t a single defining role — it’s how consistently he’s worked across genres without settling into one type of character.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Birkan Sokullu was born on October 6, 1985, in Istanbul, into a family of Bosnian descent. His grandparents immigrated to Turkey from Bosnia, giving him roots that trace back to the Balkans even though he grew up entirely in Istanbul.

Education

He studied Radio and TV Programming at Maltepe University. During this time, he also briefly studied acting and drama at Istanbul Aydın University, though he left the program after about a year. His formal acting training came instead from private lessons with actress and coach Dolunay Soysert.

Passion for Basketball During His Youth

Long before acting entered the picture, basketball was Sokullu’s main focus. He played professionally for around ten years, including time with Tekelspor, before a leg injury forced him to step away from the sport. That decade on the court shaped his physical discipline in ways that later served him well on set.

Modeling Career

Best Model of Turkey Competition

While still at university, Sokullu entered the Best Model of Turkey competition in 2003 and placed third. It wasn’t a win, but it was enough to launch his modelling career and put him in front of the kind of industry contacts that eventually led to acting work.

Transition from modelling to entertainment gave him visibility, but it wasn’t the end goal. As casting opportunities came up, he pivoted toward television, taking small supporting roles before working his way into leading parts.

How Birkan Sokullu Became an Actor

His Unexpected Entry into Acting

Sokullu didn’t set out to become an actor. His path ran through sports and modelling first, and acting became the natural next step once those doors opened.

First Television Roles

He made his television debut in 2008 with a supporting role in Elif. From there, he joined the cast of Küçük Kadınlar and the youth series Melekler Korusun, both of which helped him build early experience in front of the camera.

Career Breakthrough

His real breakthrough came with Küçük Sırlar (2010–2011), where he played Demir — a role that gave Turkish audiences their first real introduction to him as a leading man.

Birkan Sokullu’s Acting Career

Career Growth

After Küçük Sırlar, Sokullu kept building momentum with roles in Uçurum, Fatih, and the period drama Kurt Seyit ve Şura, where he played Petro Borinsky. Each project stretched his range a little further, moving him away from the “teen drama” label and into more serious dramatic territory.

Major Career Milestones

Hayat Şarkısı (2016–2017) and Masumlar Apartmanı (2020–2022) mark two of the clearest high points in his career. Both shows drew large audiences and gave him roles with real emotional weight — a shift from the lighter material he started with.

Most Successful Performances

His performance as Han Derenoğlu in Masumlar Apartmanı is widely considered one of his strongest. The role required him to carry a psychologically complex character over multiple seasons, and it’s the part most viewers associate with him today.

Best TV Shows Starring Birkan Sokullu

Popular Television Series

• Küçük Sırlar (2010–2011) — his breakout lead role
• Kurt Seyit ve Şura (2014) — a period romance set during the Russian Revolution
• Hayat Şarkısı (2016–2017) — a hit family drama
• Masumlar Apartmanı (2020–2022) — his most acclaimed dramatic role

Breakthrough Roles

Beyond Küçük Sırlar, his role in Bir Aile Hikayesi (2019) as Berk Güneş helped cement him as a dependable leading actor in ensemble family dramas.

Recent TV Projects

More recently, he starred in Yüz Yıllık Mucize (2023) and Zamanın Kapıları (2024–2025), continuing to work steadily in Turkish prime-time drama.

Birkan Sokullu Movies

Film Appearances

His film work includes Kronoloji (2019), Güzelliğin Portresi (2019), and Romantik Hırsız (2024), where he starred alongside Esra Bilgiç.

Notable Film Roles

Güzelliğin Portresi, a horror-thriller, gave him a chance to work outside the drama genre he’s best known for, playing a character named Özgür.

Web Series and Digital Projects

Netflix and Streaming Productions

Sokullu appeared in Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020), a Netflix docudrama, where he played Giovanni Giustiniani Longo — a departure from his usual contemporary drama roles.

Yaşamayanlar (Immortals)

In 2018, he starred in Yaşamayanlar, Turkey’s first vampire series, alongside Elçin Sangu and Kerem Bürsin. He played Numel, a supporting lead in the show’s small but distinctive supernatural cast.

Acting Style and Preparation

Public information on Sokullu’s specific preparation methods or acting philosophy is limited. What’s clear from his filmography is a pattern: he tends to alternate between contemporary dramas and period or genre projects, which suggests a deliberate effort to avoid repeating himself.

Awards and Achievements

Detailed, verified award records for Sokullu are not widely documented in public sources. His career recognition is best measured by the sustained popularity of his shows — Masumlar Apartmanı and Hayat Şarkısı in particular drew strong ratings and a loyal following, which speaks to his standing in the industry even without a long list of formal awards on record.

Birkan Sokullu’s Personal Life

Family

Sokullu comes from a family of Bosnian heritage that settled in Istanbul. Details about his parents and siblings are not widely publicised.

Wife and Marriage

Sokullu married actress Aslı Enver on July 13, 2012. The couple divorced in August 2015 after roughly three years of marriage.

Relationships and Dating History

After his divorce, Sokullu was reportedly linked to actress Berrak Tüzünataç for a period. As of recent reports, he is in a relationship with Eda Gürkaynak, whom he reportedly met in Greece.

Does Birkan Sokullu Have Children?

There is no confirmed public record of Sokullu having children.

Lifestyle and Interests

Love for Basketball

Basketball remains part of his identity even after his professional playing days ended. His athletic background is often cited as part of what shaped his physical presence on screen.

Passion for Travel

Public details about specific travel habits are limited, though his relationship history — including meeting his current partner abroad — suggests time spent outside Turkey.

Favourite Movies, Music, and Books

Specific personal preferences in film, music, or literature are not documented in verified sources.

Daily Routine

No verified public information details his day-to-day routine.

Favourite Food and Hobbies

Specific hobbies beyond basketball are not well documented publicly.

Birkan Sokullu Net Worth

Acting Income

As a working actor with a steady string of lead roles since 2010, Sokullu’s primary income source is television and film work, though exact figures for individual projects aren’t publicly disclosed.

Modeling Earnings

His modelling career, which began around 2003, likely contributed early income, though specific figures were never made public.

Brand Collaborations and Endorsements

Information on formal brand deals or endorsements is limited in public records.

Other Income Sources

No additional confirmed income streams are documented.

A note on net worth: Some entertainment sites estimate his net worth at approximately $2 million, based on figures reported around 2021. This number is not officially confirmed by Sokullu or his representatives, so it should be treated as an estimate rather than a verified fact.

Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance

Height

Industry profiles list his height at approximately 187 cm (6’1″).

Weight

A specific, verified weight is not publicly available.

Distinctive Features

He’s often described as having hazel eyes and brown hair, with a build shaped by his years as a competitive athlete.

Social Media Presence

Instagram

Sokullu maintains an Instagram presence with a following in the hundreds of thousands, where he shares updates on his projects and personal life.

Other Official Accounts

He also has an official Facebook page used for career-related updates.

Latest News and Upcoming Projects

Recent Appearances

Sokullu appeared in Zamanın Kapıları (2024–2025) and the film Romantik Hırsız (2024).

New TV Shows and Films

He is set to appear in Palas Pandıras (also referenced as P.A.Y.), a new project reportedly releasing on the Tabii platform in 2026.

Future Career Plans

No official statements about long-term career plans have been publicly released.

Interesting Facts About Birkan Sokullu

• Basketball was his first career, not acting — he played professionally for about ten years.
• He placed third, not first, in the 2003 Best Model of Turkey competition.
• His breakout acting role came through Küçük Sırlar, Turkey’s version of Gossip Girl.
• He played a vampire-adjacent character in Yaşamayanlar, one of Turkey’s first genre-bending supernatural series.
• He has Bosnian heritage through his grandparents.
• He’s worked across television, film, and streaming platforms including Netflix and Tabii.

Complete Filmography

Television Series

Year	Title	Role
2008	Elif	Mustafa
2008–2009	Küçük Kadınlar	Ayaz
2009–2010	Melekler Korusun	Levent
2010–2011	Küçük Sırlar	Demir
2012	Uçurum	Ulaş
2013	Fatih	Şehzade Mustafa
2014	Kurt Seyit ve Şura	Petro Borinsky
2016–2017	Hayat Şarkısı	Kerim Cevher
2017	Yüz Yüze	Cihangir
2019	Bir Aile Hikayesi	Berk Güneş
2020	Ya İstiklal Ya Ölüm	Topkapılı Mehmet
2020–2022	Masumlar Apartmanı	Han Derenoğlu
2020	Şimdiki Aklım Olsaydı	Nadir
2022	Kırmızı Oda	Guest appearance
2023	Yüz Yıllık Mucize	Kemal / Ali Tahir
2024–2025	Zamanın Kapıları	Sinan
2026	Palas Pandıras (P.A.Y.)	Koç Levent

Films

Year	Title	Role
2019	Kronoloji	Hakan
2019	Güzelliğin Portresi	Özgür
2024	Romantik Hırsız	Güney

Web Series

Year	Title	Role	Platform
2018	Yaşamayanlar	Numel	BluTV
2020	Rise of Empires: Ottoman	Giovanni Giustiniani Longo	Netflix

Guest Appearances

Kırmızı Oda (2022) marks his notable guest role in recent years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is Birkan Sokullu?

Birkan Sokullu is a Turkish actor known for roles in Küçük Sırlar, Masumlar Apartmanı, and Kurt Seyit ve Şura. Before acting, he was a professional basketball player and model.

How old is Birkan Sokullu?

He was born on October 6, 1985, making him 40 years old as of 2026.

Where is Birkan Sokullu from?

He was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, and comes from a family of Bosnian descent.

Is Birkan Sokullu married?

No. He was previously married to actress Aslı Enver from 2012 to 2015. He is currently in a relationship with Eda Gürkaynak.

Who is Birkan Sokullu’s wife?

His former wife is actress Aslı Enver, whom he married in 2012 and divorced in 2015.

Does Birkan Sokullu have children?

There is no confirmed public record of him having children.

How tall is Birkan Sokullu?

He is listed at approximately 187 cm (6’1″) in industry profiles.

What did Birkan Sokullu study?

He studied Radio and TV Programming at Maltepe University and briefly studied drama at Istanbul Aydın University.

Was Birkan Sokullu a professional basketball player?

Yes. He played professional basketball for about ten years before a leg injury ended his playing career.

How did Birkan Sokullu become an actor?

After leaving basketball, he moved into modelling, placing third in the 2003 Best Model of Turkey competition. That exposure led to his first television roles starting in 2008.

What are Birkan Sokullu’s best TV shows?

His most notable shows include Küçük Sırlar, Kurt Seyit ve Şura, Hayat Şarkısı, and Masumlar Apartmanı.

What movies has Birkan Sokullu appeared in?

His film credits include Kronoloji (2019), Güzelliğin Portresi (2019), and Romantik Hırsız (2024).

What is Birkan Sokullu’s estimated net worth?

His net worth isn’t officially confirmed. Some entertainment sites estimate it at around $2 million, based on figures from 2021.

What are Birkan Sokullu’s latest projects?

He recently appeared in Zamanın Kapıları (2024–2025) and is set to star in the upcoming series Palas Pandıras in 2026.

Conclusion

Birkan Sokullu’s story doesn’t follow the usual script for a Turkish television star. He spent a decade on the basketball court before an injury redirected him toward modelling, and modelling eventually led to an acting career that’s now spanned more than fifteen years. From his breakout role in Küçük Sırlar to his acclaimed performance in Masumlar Apartmanı, he’s built a body of work that ranges across teen drama, period romance, family saga, and supernatural fiction.

With a new project set for 2026, his career shows no signs of slowing down, and his path from sports to screen remains one of the more genuinely interesting origin stories in Turkish entertainment.

Want to keep up with Birkan Sokullu’s next project? Check back for updates as new details about Palas Pandıras and future roles are announced.