#SHOWBIZ: Shaheizy Sam gains 30kg for 'Badak'

New Straits Times

18-07-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: A truly dedicated actor will go to great lengths to ensure their portrayal of a character on screen is as realistic as possible.
Take, for instance, the remarkable transformation of Hollywood-calibre actor Christian Bale for his role as Trevor Reznik in the 2004 film, 'The Machinist'.
Bale shed nearly 30kg through a strict diet regime to embody the character.
Closer to home, Malaysian film enthusiasts will soon witness a stunning physical transformation by local actor Shaheizy Sam.
Sam, a three-time ABPBH winner for Most Popular Star, underwent an incredible change for his new film, 'Badak'.
To convincingly bring the character of Badak to life, Sam gained 30kg in the five months leading up to filming, achieved through a diet rich in sugar, fat, and fast food.
What's more, the production companies, Clover Films, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), and Papahan Films, even waited an additional six months for Sam to lose the weight again.
This was necessary for different scenes where Sam's character had to appear with a much thinner physique.
Sam expressed his excitement at being allowed to challenge himself with such a drastic physical change, all to ensure the success of his character in 'Badak'.
"I'm very happy because this is the first time I've been able to bring two different physical forms into one film," he said.
"I believe this will distract the audience from the usual me. This step makes the character feel fresh and really boosts self-confidence."
'Badak' is directed by M Raihan Halim, following the success of his previous film, 'La Luna', which represented Singapore in the early nominations for the foreign film category at the Academy Awards.
This new film aims to be a soul-stirring experience with stunning visuals.
Interestingly, 'Badak' reunites M Raihan with Sam, who plays the titular role, and Wan Hanafi Su (who plays Abah), after their collaboration on 'La Luna' approximately two years ago.
'Badak' delves into themes of familial love, the transformative power of music, and the heroism found in unspoken affection.
This Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia collaboration is set to be screened in Malaysian cinemas on Oct 2, followed by Singaporean cinemas on Oct 16.
Sam commented that his willingness to gain and then lose weight for the character of Badak demonstrates his dedication and passion for acting.
"I prove that my passion for acting is still alive after 30 years," he said.
M Raihan is notably optimistic about the cast entrusted with bringing the characters in 'Badak' to life.
"I don't think it's an exaggeration when I say that there is only one person disciplined and dedicated enough to play the character of Badak," he said.
"That individual is Sam. We had so much fun working together on 'La Luna' that I knew I wanted to continue working together on something more challenging and scarier!
"'Badak' is a real emotional journey. I'm glad not only Sam is there, but also Aida Amron, Kahoe Hon, and the one and only Ayah Wan (Wan Hanafi Su) to go through this experience together."
'Badak' narrates the emotional journey of the titular character, a deaf single father whose life revolves around his daughter, Mirah.
Badak raises Mirah with immense love and dignity. However, their quiet routine is disrupted when Mirah suddenly becomes a hip-hop star.
As their tranquil world intersects with the loud world of music, Badak must bridge the ever-widening gap, not just in terms of sound, but also spiritually.
'Badak' promises a heartwarming and thought-provoking cinematic experience, celebrating the strength of family, the pursuit of dreams, and a true love that transcends all else and touches the soul.
'Badak' is produced in collaboration with Sinemart Indonesia, Juita Viden, One Tree Holdings, ACT 2 Pictures, and Dropkick.