Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Farid Kamil's performance in the biopic was fantastic. Photos: AP, Azlina Abdullah/The Star
Local actor Farid Kamil said getting fully into his role as Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Indonesian director Viva Westi’s biopic, Anwar: The Untold Story, was difficult.
Wanting to play the part as flawlessly as possible, Farid spent his free time watching videos of Anwar and listening to his speeches.
However, learning about such an influential person in this manner was not enough.
For the Jutawan Fakir star, there was no better way of learning about a non-fictional role than meeting the real person himself.
“I had the opportunity to meet Anwar two or three times before Parliament got dissolved, and he explained to me in detail what he went through during his time in prison,” he shared.
The first time Farid met Anwar was for dinner, where he asked for advice about how he could embody the role. However, the meeting only lasted two hours, which, according to the actor, wasn’t enough.
“I knew that there was still more to learn, so I decided to meet him again before flying off to Jakarta for filming.
“During our second meeting, I asked Anwar to show me the scars that were inflicted from being punched seven times as stated in the medical report.
“He then took off his glasses and showed me. When I saw the scar on his brow bone, it motivated me to work harder to bring justice to Anwar’s character.
“He also advised me to play the role well since the film would be screened in Indonesia and he had lots of Indonesian supporters,” he said.
Farid and Acha Septriasa (second from right) met up with Anwar and Wan Azizah in preparation for their role. Photo: Farid Kamil/Instagram
Farid added that he had to learn and imitate the political leader’s style of speaking and body movements for the role.
“To be frank, I was able to imitate his style of speaking easily as we are both from the north and speak the same dialect.
“The hard part was copying the way he raised his hand after he was brought to court in 1998 – like you can see in the movie poster,” he said, adding that it took him an entire month of practising to get the right position.
A job well done
Sure enough, Farid’s hard work paid off.
On May 8, Anwar attended the premiere of the biopic at Dadi Cinema, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. He was accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
During a press conference, where Anwar and Wan Azizah were present, the respected politician said that he was pleased with the actor’s portrayal of him in the biopic.
Anwar and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said they enjoyed the movie. Photo: Bernama
“Watching (Farid’s) performance, you can tell that he worked very hard to (bring my character to life).
“The only difference is that he is more handsome than I am,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
“The acting was brilliant. To portray me going through hard times, or when I was angry and hurting is not easy, yet Farid was able to deliver a fantastic performance,” he added.
The Malaysian leader also said that he was impressed by director Viva’s ability to condense his 23-year journey in politics into over an hour.
“Trying to fit what went on for 23 years into a single film isn’t easy, and the cinematography was excellent too,” he added.
Anwar told the press that he felt moved after watching the biopic.
He said that although the overall dialogue in the movie was not fully accurate, the issues raised were based on true events.
A scene of Farid as Anwar and Acha as Wan Azizah. Photo: Handout
“Azizah and I were very touched. It is difficult for me to comment much as I have tried very hard to forget certain episodes as they are too hurtful for me to bear.
“Azizah has gone through a lot, as have my children and friends too,” he shared.
Meanwhile, Wan Azizah praised the film for doing a great job showcasing her husband’s political struggles that led to the “Reformasi” movement.
“This movie shows how our journey was like in the past. It also fends off the perception that Anwar is a criminal or convict,” she said.
Divorce case
Farid himself is in the middle of a controversy at the moment as he is embroiled in a divorce case with his wife, actress Diana Danielle.
Diana, 31, cited irreconcilable differences and shiqaq (prolonged disagreement) as motives for the divorce.
However, Farid – who is hoping for a reconciliation – refused to utter the talak (proclamation of divorce) when the divorce application was brought up at the Petaling Lower Syariah Court in Subang Bestari, Selangor, on March 20.
The actor has since been trying to dissuade his wife from pursuing the divorce, with various gifts including a bouquet of flowers, a ring and a car worth RM225,000, among others.
However, Diana has refused to accept those gifts.
Both parties have been ordered by the Syariah High Court to go through the conciliatory committee, with the court setting May 30 to hear the report of this meeting.
Farid and Diana married in November 2012 and they have two children together: Muhammad, 10, and Aurora, eight.
Gratifying experience
On the career front, the consummate actor told StarLifestyle that playing Anwar was a gratifying experience.
He also said that it made him want to play more non-fiction heroes.
“After this project, I’m definitely interested in playing more non-fiction roles... not just in politics but other areas like science and business.
“It won’t be so soon, though, as I’ve just finished my first ever non-fiction role, and it takes lots of time to prepare for it.
“For now, I really want to play a James Bond kind of character. But yes, in the future, I’m up for it (to play non-fiction roles),” he said with a smile.
Anwar: The Untold Story tells the journey of Anwar in battling bribery and corruption.
It charts the period from when he was first appointed as Finance Minister in 1991 until his termination from the cabinet in 1998, and the “Reformasi” campaign which contributed to his imprisonment that year.
The film also stars Acha Septriasa as Wan Azizah and Hasnul Rahmat as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar: The Untold Story opens at cinemas nationwide on May 18.
