Latest news with #Paskal
The Star
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Zul Ariffin loses 20kg in 2 months for new movie role, intense training caused 'blackouts, nosebleed, migraines'
Malaysian actor Zul Ariffin is showing full dedication to his role in the upcoming film The Furious. The 38-year-old actor took to Instagram to share with fans his fitness journey in preparation for the role. He revealed that he has been working out and watching his diet over the past two months to get ripped. And ripped he became. Zul shared a photo of himself flaunting his toned body and six-pack abs, which had garnered over 24,000 likes at press time. But all these sacrifices came at a price, said Zul. "2 blackouts. 1 nosebleed. And a whole load of migraines and dizziness, low carbs, low sugar, semua low la! and still 2, 3 hrs of training daily," the actor explained in the caption, adding that his two-month training resulted in 20kg weight loss. He now weighs 81kg. Zul Ariffin went from 101kg to 81kg in two months. Photo: Zul Ariffin/Instagram "It wasn't easy, in fact it has been one of the biggest challenges I've taken on to date," he said, adding that the last time he attempted a fitness challenge was nine years ago, during which he lost 12kg. "I said I'd do it, honestly, not fully confident I really could but sometimes you just gotta grit your teeth and say LET'S GO!!" the Sangkar actor said. Malaysian celebs and fans applauded Zul's tenacity and left words of encouragement in the comments section. Content creator Fehim Hodzic said: "What a transformation sir! Inspirational to see these type of posts. Huge respect." Paskal actor Theeban G wrote: "Madness bro." Sandra Lim and Zul Ariffin. Photo: Sandra Lim/Instagram Meanwhile, Zul's co-star in The Furious, Sandra Lim, cheered him on, saying: "Mad respect. Let's do this." Zul ended his post saying he's ready to start shooting The Furious.
The Star
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Multifaceted artiste Henley Hii reflects on his career and fatherhood
With a career that's seen him shift seamlessly between music and acting, Henley Hii has quietly carved out a space for himself in Malaysia's entertainment landscape. With a string of accolades to his name, the actor, singer and songwriter has had a varied career. Known for his roles in films like Kepong Gangster (2012), Paskal (2018) and The Assistant (2022), among others, Hii will appear next in Legasi: Bomba the Movie , which will be shown in cinemas in August this year. As a recording artiste, the 40-year-old has enjoyed moderate success with an album, several EPs and multiple singles. Career-wise, things are pretty swell for Hii at the moment, as is his personal life – the Sabah native is married to actress Pauline Tan and is also father to a 14-month-old daughter, Maya. While he is in a good place right now, he has had his fair share of challenges: 17 years ago, he was almost forced to abandon his showbiz dreams. An illustrious career Growing up in Kota Kinabalu, Hii dabbled in music and singing in school, and his first foray into the world of entertainment was Astro Talent Quest in 2004. 'After Astro Talent Quest , I wanted to start a boy band, which had always been a dream of mine,' says Hii, who taught himself to play the guitar and piano. The plan was set in motion but ultimately, the boyband never made its debut and Hii found himself faced with the possibility of giving up on his dreams and returning to Sabah. 'I hope she is kind and self-loving, and has integrity,' says Hii, referring to his daughter. 'Being successful without integrity is meaningless. Being respectful to other people is also very important.' 'After the talent show I was mostly singing in cafes with my guitar,' says Hii. 'My dad, who is a contractor, called me and asked me to come and work for him. I told him I would, but then the audition for the reality talent show Project Superstar came up,' says Hii. Telling his dad he would move back after trying out for just one more competition, it seemed like divine intervention when he emerged as the winner, thus laying the foundation for his career in entertainment. From then on, Hii says his professional life has been pretty smooth sailing. 'Because I was signed under a record company, I was placed under a manager, and I didn't need to do anything but focus on my music,' says Hii. While he grew up speaking Mandarin, he never learned to read or write the language, but spending a year in Taiwan to film the drama Roseate Love changed that. 'It was hard to learn, but I spent every day forcing myself to write and after a year, I realised I could read a lot of words, I could even read my script,' says Hii. His creative process when approaching a role is through observation. 'I like to look at people. Sometimes I look at people and just imagine I'm them. I see the way they speak, the way they write,' says Hii. 'For my roles, I get inspiration from friends around me.' Sometimes, he lands a part but only has a short time to prepare before filming starts due to various reasons, such as the original actor dropping out due to illness. 'We get a role, and then we need to prepare for it in as little as one week. Once, I got a role on a drama series and because it was pretty last minute, I based my character on my own brother because I already knew him so well,' says Hii. Every role poses different challenges for an actor, but apart from learning lines and memorising fight scene choreography, acting can take a toll on one's physique in various ways. 'One of the hardest roles was in The Assistant, where my character has a big tattoo on my back. I think it took 16 to 17 hours where I was just lying down,' he says. 'Because you're just lying there doing nothing. It's not like a sticker, it has to look authentic, they need to put on the mould and draw the outline, put in the colour. You pray you don't have to do a reshoot the next day,' says Hii. When it comes to music, he says writing a song is like writing in one's diary. 'My inspiration actually comes to me when I'm driving. Many times I tell my wife, 'I need to write a song, I'm going for a drive'. It's 'me time',' he says. 'Music is about feelings. Whether you're sad, happy or feeling inspired by another song,' he adds. Acting and music, he says, balance each other out for him: working with others as a team on the set of a production brings out the extrovert in him, while working on his music appeals to the introvert in him. The Sabah native is married to actress Pauline Tan and is also father to a 14-month-old daughter, Maya. Photo: Pauline Tan Family matters Having the best of both worlds when it comes to his career in entertainment, it's always a balancing act when it's his personal life. With a wife who is also an actor, they often bring their daughter to each other's sets during filming. 'It always brightens up the ambience on set and it keeps me motivated,' says Hii. Thankfully, their filming schedules haven't clashed yet, making juggling parenting duties and work commitments easier. Finding time to spend as a couple can be a challenge, but they try to do this during their daughter's naptime and after she goes to sleep at night. He emphasises the importance of integrity, kindness and patience when it comes to parenting his young daughter, Maya. 'I hope she is kind and self-loving, and has integrity,' he says. 'Being successful without integrity is meaningless. Being respectful to other people is also very important.' Looking ahead With a solid career in both acting and music, what is there left for Hii to pursue? A biopic, he says. 'I always wanted to do one. It's the hardest thing to do because you are basing the role on a real person,' says Hii. 'I need to not only convince myself, I need to also convince the family members. What if they watch it and say, 'that's not what the character would do or say',' he adds. Taking on a fictional role, he says, is sort of like assuming that role as yourself, and building from that. 'But if I act as someone else, I would really need to talk to the person, ask about their personality, what their mindset is, who inspires them, basically to do a lot of homework,' says Hii. Ultimately, whether he's on set, behind a microphone, or simply being a dad, Hii is driven by purpose and heart.
New Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Jasmine Suraya's vision for talent development
KUALA LUMPUR: Actress Jasmine Suraya is advocating for the government and the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) to actively cultivate the creative industry's future by dedicating funds to talent development. Jasmine, 36, who recently earned her master's degree from the Lee Strasberg Film and Theatre Institute in Los Angeles, the United States, pointed out that current government funding primarily focuses on film production. "There was some misinterpretation when I previously spoke on this issue. Some suggested that I was asking for government funds to finance my studies," she said. "I have the means to fund my own education. My concern is that the creative industry lacks specific funding for talent development, particularly for young artistes and those working behind the scenes. "We see the government and Finas investing millions in film production, but where is the corresponding investment in developing our local talent?" she questioned. "This talent development funding should be accessible not only to actors, but also to directors, scriptwriters, cinematographers and other crucial members of the production crew, to enhance their skills," she told Harian Metro. The 'Paskal' and 'Daulat' actress hoped that her proposal would resonate with the government and Finas. "This initiative would provide aspiring individuals with valuable opportunities to grow and expand their knowledge. "If the government and Finas are serious about the continued growth of the creative industry, allocating resources for talent development is essential." As a starting point, she suggested identifying promising Malaysian talent and providing them with the means to further their education and refine their skills. Drawing inspiration from South Korea's success, Jasmine said, "I admire how rapidly their creative industry has flourished. "Their approach is holistic; they understand that success requires investment in all aspects of the industry, not just one.
New Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Fortune smiles on ex-action star
ALMOST two years after announcing his retirement from acting, Hairul Azreen reveals that he continues to receive offers, including becoming a sports brand ambassador. The actor, known for action movies such as 'Paskal', 'Polis Evo 2' and 'Wira' says that his time since retiring has been largely spent with his family. "Now I can take care of the children, send them to and from school, including training. The children's and my schedule during the week can be quite busy, "After quitting acting, I got offers to be an ambassador for several brands. "I thought I would have lots of time to focus on my children after leaving showbiz, but it turned out that I still had work. I still have blessings in other forms." Hairul admitted to being a little worried about how not working as an actor any more would affect his income. But the husband of actress Hanis Zalikha said that he put his trust in God's hands and expressed his belief in divine providence. "I used to wonder what my income would be like when I stopped acting. But, thank God, I received two offers to become an ambassador," he said. "Before quitting, I told my wife that I was all right with living a simpler life. Maybe people will not know me or care about me, but I did not care about any of that. "When I quit, other forms of sustenance will come," he told BH Online. The 37-year-old actor encouraged others not to fear change. "People are often afraid to change jobs, but in reality, God's provision is vast. It depends on the individual and whether they dare to do new things or not," he said. Hairul announced his retirement in August 2023 while appearing as a guest on Era FM's 3 'Pagi Era' segment. The military action film 'Malbatt: Misi Bakara', released on Aug 24, 2023, marked his final appearance as an actor. However, in October 2024, Hairul made headlines again when he announced his involvement as a professional e-sports player for the Selangor Red Giants team.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- New Straits Times
Police to quiz actor who allegedly assaulted girlfriend
SHAH ALAM: Police will question the actor who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said police received a report from the victim on April 7 over the incident that allegedly occurred in Ara Damansara. "The victim suffered soft tissue injuries to her face and arm. "We will call him in soon for questioning to facilitate investigations under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt," he said today. Offenders face up to one year in jail, a fine of up to RM2,000 or both upon conviction. Hussein said police records showed that the victim had lodged a report alleging that she was assaulted by the suspect last year. "The victim later retracted the report," he said. It was reported that actor Ammar Alfian denied allegations of assaulting a woman, claiming that he was framed to tarnish his reputation. He addressed the accusation in an Instagram Story. Ammar, known for his role in the film 'Paskal', said this was not the first time he faced such allegations. His statement came after a woman claimed she was beaten and abused by the actor in the past year.
