Russia’s Chulpan Khamatova on Stalinist Backlash Over ‘Zuleikha’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentRussian actor Chulpan Khamatova is known internationally for key roles in “Good Bye, Lenin!,” and more recently Aleksei Alekseivich German’s drama “Under Electric Clouds,” and Ralph Fiennes-directed Rudolf Nureyev biopic “The White Crow.” Last month, as Russia was deep in lockdown, Khamatova found herself embroiled in controversy sparked by TV series “Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes” in which she plays a young woman deported to Siberia during the Stalin-era purges.Produced and aired by Russia Television and Radio, “Zuleikha” has scored a massive more than 36.5 million TV viewers and more than 30 million digital viewings in Russia, while serving as a catalyst for the country to contend with its past.