'Real Borat' hopes to make film

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A Turkish man who claims he is the inspiration for spoof Kazakh journalist Borat - aka Sacha Baron Cohen - says he would like to make his own film.

Mahir Cagri, 44, became an internet hit in 1999 after setting up a website that featured unintentionally amusing photos of himself sunbathing.

He claims Cohen copied his persona for Borat, adding that he is considering legal action against the comedian.

Mr Cagri said: "[Cohen] copies me, and he imitates me in a bad way."

'Very bad'

After seeing the Borat film, Mr Cagri said he was worried people might think he is like Borat, who mocks Kazakhstan, enjoys naked wrestling and makes jokes at the expense of Jews.

"If you (see) this, what you think about me?" he said.

"Mahir is a very bad comedian, Mahir is a homosexual, Mahir may be say the bad things about Jewish people? This is very bad."

Borat has done better than expected at the US box office

Mr Cagri set up an internet site seven years ago to forge new friendships.

Internet users quickly became hooked by Mr Cagri, with Microsoft chief Bill Gates rumoured to be amongst his fans.

In broken English, Mr Cagri's site explains: "I like to take foto-camera (amimals, towns, nice nude models and peoples)."

His personal details read: "My tall 1.84 cm (6.2 feet) My weight 78 kg. My eyes green. I live alone!"

People have drawn parallels with Cohen's creation Borat, who is currently taking the US and UK box offices by storm.

"The world's media writes that Borat imitates and copies Mahir," said Mr Cagri, who added that he plans to make his own film to show the "real Mahir".

Cohen was not immediately available for comment, but has previously said Borat was influenced by a doctor he met in southern Russia.