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Renowned theater and film actor Tungyshbai Zhamankulov has revealed new details about his relationship with his wife, Dariya Abdimalikyzy, who is two decades his junior. The actor shared that he fell in love with his student and subsequently built a family with her.

Zhamankulov explained that at the time of their courtship, he was not concerned with public opinion or gossip. He was captivated by his future wife's diligence, intelligence, and integrity.

Love and Public Perception

"My student, at that time, there was no room to think about what people would say. I was struck by her hard work and her way of thinking. In today's terms, I fell head over heels in love. I tied the knot and made this decision," the actor recounted.

He admitted that his past life wasn't perfect, but his wife's respect for him evolved into love. "We were afraid to hide, so we went public. Someone asked me, 'You have fame, you're interesting. She's two decades younger than you, if you liked her, why not just be companions?' I replied, 'I cannot be just companions. I can only be a husband,'" Zhamankulov shared.

The actor's current family includes two sons and one daughter. His elder son graduated from a university in Moscow, while his second son is studying to become a dentist. His daughter is currently in the 10th grade.

Who is Tungyshbai Zhamankulov?

Tungyshbai Kadyrovich Zhamankulov is a celebrated actor, director, and educator who has left an indelible mark on Kazakh theater and cinema. Born in 1948 in the Zhambyl region, he chose acting as his life's calling.

In 1970, he joined the Mukhtar Auezov Kazakh State Academic Drama Theater. On its stage, Zhamankulov portrayed complex characters such as Baktygul, Syrym, Khan Abylai, and Abutalip, earning widespread audience acclaim.

His film roles, including those of Chekist, Tangirbergen, Abilkaiyr, Khairkhan, and Kunanbai, were also convincingly performed. For his role as Khairkhan in the film "The Fall of Otrar," he received the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 1992.

From 1993 to 2001, Tungyshbai Zhamankulov served as the General Director and Artistic Director of the Auezov Theater. He has been honored with the titles of Honored Artist of Kazakhstan and People's Artist of Kazakhstan, and has been awarded the Parasat and Dostyk Orders.

This information was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.