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Reply 298# kepoci
34 35 camtu tak silap.
marilah kite semua memulakan kempen minum nescafe kopi mocha
*neskepeneskepeneskepe*
Health @ AsiaOne
So much for being an outcast
As a child, Azhan Rani had very fair skin, brown hair and brown eyes. So much so that he was nicknamed "Mat Salleh" by his school mates. -NST
Sun, Jul 31, 2011
New Straits Times
AS a child, Azhan Rani had very fair skin, brown hair and brown eyes. So much so that he was nicknamed "Mat Salleh" by his school mates. Both his parents are Malay but his dad had a skin condition which Azhan inherited.
"It's neither an illness nor am I albino. My doctor told me that it was just genetic. Out of five, two of my siblings including me got it. Over time, my skin changed colour from fair to what you can see today which is brown. According to the doctor, if I had kids some of them would inherit it from me," said Azhan who didn't mind me prying at all.
Before he went full force into show business, Azhan admitted to suffering from an inferiority complex because of his affliction. He thought industry folk would not give him the time of day. He thought he would be an outcast.
How glad he was to know that his assumptions were baseless!
Today, Azhan is one of the busiest working actors in the business.
Born in Tanjung Karang, Selangor, Azhan who grew up in Kuala Kubu Baru got involved in theatre in 1994 when he studied the arts at Akademi Seni Melaka.
He obtained a diploma in drama and later pursued a Performance Arts degree at Unimas Sarawak.
After he graduated, Hamzah Tahir, his lecturer at Unimas suggested that he taught what he preached and so Azhan took up the challenge and taught at the Arts Faculty at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, as a temporary facilitator. He did this for two years.
When his contract was terminated, Azhan didn't sit down and twiddle his thumbs doing nothing. He got a part in the successful theatre production Lantai T.Pinkie acting alongside Nasha Aziz at Istana Budaya. Directed by Hamzah's sister Rosminah Tahir, it also featured Hamzah who acted in the production.
Azhan left such an impact that soon enough, he was asked if he would like to work for television, something he thought was far-fetched once upon a time.
"Honestly, I never planned to have a career in TV. I enjoyed theatre work and intended to pursue it professionally. My career path took a turn and there I was working on my first television drama," said Azhan whose first foray into the idiot box was for a TV drama called Sesuci Cinta Sofia.
Azhan attributed his successful transition to director Along Kamaruddin and producer/actor Rosyam Nor.
"Rosyam had told me then that if I succeeded in portraying my character, he would give me more scenes," recalled Azhan.
Azhan certainly delivered.
He played a baddie who tried to bring down a company. In the drama, Azhan also rubbed shoulders with notable actresses like the beautiful Rozita Che Wan and Aida Khalida (formerly known as Aida Radziwill).
Azhan went back to theatre after that, only this time he worked behind-the-scenes as a stage manager in a bangsawan production called Tengku Anum.
But the spotlight beckoned and before long, he was back doing a musical theatre called Antara. Antara also featured big names like Jamal Abdillah, Lan Typewriter (former lead singer of Meet Uncle Hussain), Nasha Aziz and Fahrin Ahmad.
In Antara, Azhan played an evil character but he won the hearts of the audience. While the audience was impressed by his portrayal, Azhan had cautioned them not to fall for the Iblis (devil) which he had successfully portrayed but his talent in portraying it.
"I learnt later that I was the fourth guy to try that part. Apparently, the ones who auditioned before me decided to turn it down when they learnt that they were to play the Iblis.
It was a huge responsibility and a challenge. But director Erma Fatima and Ellie Suriaty Omar assured me that I could pull it off. I gave myself three days to practise without the script. If I could do that, then I would play the role," he recalled.
And he did. So convincing was his portrayal that he became the talk of the town or production.
By this time, it was clear that this man who had a humble beginning had great talent and so it was no surprise that he was again offered work on a 25-episode television drama called Yusuff. It is loosely based on the life of Prophet Yusuf whose good looks caused much jealousy among his siblings.
In Yusuff, Azhan played the role of young Yusuff's father. It also featured Betty Banafe, Ashraf Muslim, Zarynn Min, Datuk Jalaluddin Hassan, Abby Abadi, Intan Sarafina, Puteri Fateen and Zed Zaidi.
Another drama called Masyitah followed suit. It was a tale about a young mother Masyitah (Umie Aida) whose life is shattered when she learns that her son is suffering from acute autism. Masyitah also has to manage her child without family support. In Masyitah, Azhan worked with Eizlan Yusof and Rozie Othman.
In Rintihan Kalbu he played an ex-drug addict who eventually turns over a new leaf. He was also in Dendam Orang Minyak where he transformed into one.
Then there were Gemilang, Tower 13 (police inspector), Suara Takdir (a loser who doesn't trust his wife) and Habil Qabil, a 25-episode drama which also featured Aaron Aziz, Zed Zaidi, Abby Abadi and Zila Bakarin.
These days you can catch him on TV3's Supermak, a follow-up to Juvana. It airs every Saturday at 9pm and also features Nasha Aziz, Zul Yahya, Syawal AF4, Zara Zya, etc.
Supermak tells a story of a homemaker named Amy Salim played by Nasha Aziz. When trouble brews, Amy turns into a superwoman complete with superpowers. She inherited the superpowers, which had been passed down generation to generation, from Riau.
Azhan plays Rees (Amy's husband). In the drama, although he is married to Amy, little does he know of his wife's superpowers. The 13-episode drama was first aired last Saturday.
"I can't believe how my career has taken off. To show my gratitude to those who have given me the platform, I plan to continue giving nothing but my best," said the 35-year-old bachelor.
AZHAN TRIVIA
- Favourite Malaysian actor?
Eman Manan and Sidi Oraza.
- Favourite Malaysian actress?
Noor Kumalasari.
- Favourite Malaysian movie?
Matinya Seorang Patriot.
- Favourite international actor?
Al Pacino.
- Favourite international actress?
Jodie Foster.
- Favourite international movie?
The Godfather.
- Favourite Malaysian singer?
Jamal Abdillah and Lan Typewriter.
- Favourite internationalsinger/band?
Metallica.
- Favourite song of all time?
Jamal Abdillah's Derita Cinta.
- Dream holiday destintion?
Mount Kinabalu and The Grand Canyon. |
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