Once You Go Taqwacore

“You played Amazing Ayyub exactly how I pictured it in my head,” I said to Volkan Eryaman.  His character is the wild, tweaking, half naked misfit with a tattoo of “Karbala” around his neck. In the movie he looks like he is constantly on something, and ready to run at a moment’s notice.

“Yeah?” he said smiling back. In real life, he’s a tall sweet guy. He had all the amazing characteristics of Amazing Ayyub, but in a sober, down-to-earth real kind of way. “I kind of approached this role as if it was my last chance at being really punk. You know, because I’m getting older and whatever. So I gave it all the punk attitude that I had.”

“What are you talking about?” I replied with a laugh. “You know once you go punk, there’s really no going back.”