Age shouldn't define a hero, says ‘Keluang Man' actor Rosyam Nor

Free Malaysia Today

03-06-2025

Rosyam, famously known as 'Hero Malaya', believes an experienced actor can still add value to a production, especially when paired with younger performers. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : Veteran producer and actor Rosyam Nor believes age should not define a leading role, and expressed hope that, with talent being a 'timeless gift', more senior actors will return to the spotlight.
'People say if I play a hero, I'm considered an 'old hero'. I disagree. There's no such thing as an old or young hero. If he's a hero, he's a hero,' said the 58-year-old, whose real name is Mohamed Noor Shamsuddin.
'In films, even if a person is 70, he or she can still be a hero,' he told reporters after the trailer launch of the live-action 'Keluang Man' movie recently.
Famously known as 'Hero Malaya', Rosyam said an experienced actor can still add value to a production, especially if they are paired with younger performers.
'Therefore, give us opportunities, especially in action films. We already have our own fan base, and when combined with young actors, it can attract two groups of viewers: the old and the new.'
Citing the success of the Hindi film 'Mohabbatein', which paired Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, Rosyam added that such an approach reflects generational diversity in mainstream works.
He said such collaboration not only allows veteran actors to continue shining but also provides fans of all ages a reason to return to cinemas.
Rosyam's Ahmad playing middleman to Nas-T's Borhan (left) and Remy Ishak's Shamsir in 'Keluang Man'. (Astro Shaw pic)
'Some films today are too focused on the younger generation, to the point that older fans who grew up with us feel left out because there are no longer genres or figures they can watch in the cinema,' said the Best Actor winner of last year's 16th Malaysian Film Festival.
Commenting on his involvement in the superhero film's first full-length release, he said he feels proud to have been given the opportunity to act in a film directed by Anwari Ashraf and adapted from the iconic 1990s cartoon series.
'This is my first superhero film, and I'm proud because it's made by a younger generation of filmmakers, adapted from an old classic, and presented on the big screen. I think the film's production set is one of the most impressive in the history of local films,' he said.
He also urges local audiences to support the film, as it not only evokes nostalgia for the older generation but also introduces a local legend to younger audiences.
Rosyam stars in 'Keluang Man', which is now screening in cinemas nationwide, alongside other prominent local actors including Nas-T, Remy Ishak, Shweta Sekhon, Anwaar Beg Moghal, Halim Othman, and Amelia Henderson.