Actor Sahrul ready to move past pretty boy roles<\/p>\n
Tony Ryanto, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A lot of kids and teenyboppers may well be acquainted with Sahrul
\nGunawan, a teenage singer and the protagonist of Jin dan Jun (Jin
\nand Jun), a TV show that was broadcast on RCTI from 1995 to 2000.
\nTwo different actors starred as Jin, but Sahrul played Jun for
\nthe full five-year run of the show.<\/p>\n
Sahrul has grown up and has since appeared in rather mature
\nshows such as Bukan Cinderella (Not Cinderella, SCTV, 2003) and
\nKecil-Kecil Jadi Manten (Teenagers Become Bridegrooms, RCTI,
\n2002).<\/p>\n
Most people are drawn to the actor because of his looks. While
\ngood looks are a blessing, they could work to restrict the roles
\nan actor gets.<\/p>\n
Remember Tony Curtis? He was a handsome actor. However, unlike
\nRock Hudson, Curtis was gorgeous. So in an effort to change his
\nimage, he and Sidney Poitier played the protagonists in Stanley
\nKramer's The Defiant Ones.<\/p>\n
The actor, one critic said of the movie, delivers a truly
\nsurprising, almost flawless, performance. He received a Best
\nActor Oscar nomination for his work.<\/p>\n
In Bukan Cinderella, Sahrul is no longer a pretty boy, or so
\nhe wants viewers to see him. He is not clean shaven, he seldom
\nsmiles, is often moody and represents the angry young man,
\nforever at odds with his stepmother.<\/p>\n
At one point, the female lead, Lia, says, \"Mom's been in an
\naccident, but thank God she is still alive and well.\"<\/p>\n
\"Why thank God? Didn't she have an accident?\" is the comment
\nof Sahrul's character.<\/p>\n
\"We always have to thank God because He knows what is best for
\nus,\" retorts the girl. And Sahrul's character begins to ponder
\nthis and seemingly comes to the conclusion that she's right.<\/p>\n
It's an effective moment, especially considering that Lia is
\nnot only younger but socially from a lower class. In Lia's words:
\n\"He comes from a rich family, whereas we do not. To make things
\nworse, the family wants him to marry a girl of the same
\nstanding.\"<\/p>\n
The strong dialog reminds us of the conversations involving
\nanother actor, Krisna Mukti, in the early episodes of the series
\nAku Ingin Pulang.<\/p>\n
Sahrul is well aware of his cute looks and tries hard to play
\nagainst type. In his secretary's opinion, \"He is happy whenever
\nhe is entrusted to play a new character that is different from
\nthe ones he has played in the past.\"<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old actor (born in Bogor on May 23, 1976) has
\nappeared in 14 TV series and FTVs (70-minute made-for TV feature
\nfilms).<\/p>\n
Apart from the delightful Jin dan Jun series, Sahrul said his
\nfavorite sinetron (short for sinema elektronik, or electronic
\ncinema, which is aired on TV) was Jalan Lain Ke Sana (Another Way
\nto Heaven, SCTV, 2002), in which he played a Muslim religious
\nteacher.<\/p>\n
\"A lot of viewers say they like me in that series because the
\nrole suits me, and I myself have learned a great deal from the
\ndialog,\" Sahrul said.<\/p>\n
A graduate of the School of Economics at Pakuan University in
\nBogor, Sahrul has twice performed the haj pilgrimage (in 2001 and
\n2003).<\/p>\n
In 2003, he also did the umrah (pilgrimage to Mecca that can
\nbe performed at anytime during the year).<\/p>\n
When asked about marriage, the son of HM Somantri and Hj
\nHasanah is modest.<\/p>\n
\"I am still single. I want to be a family man but am still
\nlooking for the right young woman. God willing, she will come and
\nwill make a good wife.\"<\/p>\n
Sahrul expressed hope he could become an actor of substance,
\none to be reckoned with.<\/p>\n
\"I admire Sean Penn because the American actor plays different
\ncharacters in each of the films in which he stars.<\/p>\n
\"I also admire (local film stars) Christine Hakim and Rano
\nKarno. Apart from Sean Penn, I have a high regard for Nicole
\nKidman and Al Pacino.\"<\/p>\n
\"One of my favorite films is I am Sam, which is touching and
\nin which Penn is outstanding.\"<\/p>\n
He makes particular mention of another local actress and
\nsinger, Meriam Bellina, who Sahrul praises as a true
\nprofessional.<\/p>\n
The late director Arifin C. Noer also had a lot of praise for
\nMeriam, saying she had contributed a great deal to the nation's
\nfilm industry.<\/p>\n
Meriam plays Sahrul's mother in Pernikahan Dini (Dini's
\nMarriage), a popular soap opera that also stars Agnes Monica, who
\nwon the Panasonic Best Actress Award for her work on the show.<\/p>\n
Sahrul said his favorite local director was Chairul Umam
\nbecause the latter was very accurate and cooperative.<\/p>\n
\"I also have a great deal of esteem for producer Leo Sutanto
\nbecause he has vision and idealism.\"<\/p>\n
The actor's motto in life are the two Bs: Belajar dan Berdoa
\n(study and pray). And his favorite dish is sayur asem (vegetable
\nsoup), a delicacy a lot of Indonesians miss whenever they are out
\nof the country for long periods of time.<\/p>\n
Sahrul said he would like to be record producer for aspiring
\nyoung singers. He is the executive producer on his fourth album,
\nto be released this year.<\/p>\n
\"I would like to be honored with a sinetron best actor award.
\nI hope the FSI (Indonesian Sinetron Festival) is revived because
\ncompetition makes our profession more worthwhile and meaningful.\"<\/p>\n
Sutanto says Sahrul was a promising actor. \"My next sinetron
\nfor him is tentatively titled Ketika Nadine Ketemu Usep (When
\nNadine Meets Usep). From what I gather, his dream is to become a
\nstar in a 35mm feature film, which I am most happy to consider.\"<\/p>\n
At the age of 43, Tony Curtis played the title role in The
\nBoston Strangler but didn't get the attention of the Academy of
\nMotion Picture Arts and Sciences. The character he portrays is in
\nsharp contrast to the ones that so pleased his legions of female
\nfans in The Prince Who Was A Thief, Houdini and The Black Shield
\nof Falworth.<\/p>\n
Sahrul said: \"I know people tend to think I am not capable of
\nbringing to life characters other than sweet pretty boys, but I
\npray I will be given the strength to perform effectively in more
\nserious fare, like Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July or
\nMichael J. Fox in Casualties of War.<\/p>\n
\"And I hope I don't have to wait until I'm 43.\"<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/actor-sahrul-ready-to-move-past-pretty-boy-roles-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }