ESQUIRE: If you could steal one quality from any actor, what and who would it be?

BRONT PALARAE: I think there’s quite a lot of people to choose from. Because many actors have their own skills, and I look at them and see “Ah, they have this skill,” and I think when it comes to screen charm, there’s a lot in my generation that has that. 

But commitment-wise, I think Shaheizy Sam.  

MIERUL AIMAN: Idol.

BP: Not just because of how far he's willing to push himself for a role, but because of the amount of work he's willing to put in before the cameras even roll. And his adaptability.

MA: I see Abang Shaheizy Sam as a symbol of a passionate actor.

BP: Whether the role requires him to gain weight, lose weight...

MA: [Laughs] Yeah, however he likes.

ESQ: If you both could star together in a remake of any film, what would you choose?

MA: Ooh, that’s nice. I think if I could work with you to remake a story, I would like to act in Rock Oo!

BP: [Laughs] Serious?

MA: Before I even got to know you personally, you were one of my references for what it means to be a versatile actor. Then I learned how the late Mamat Khalid had this incredible ability to completely transform an actor's rhythm and energy from one role to another.

That fascinated me.

I kept wondering what it would be like to explore that kind of transformation together with you.

BP: Imagine the hair during that era too, right? 

ESQ: Tarung: Unforgiven is stacked with an incredible cast. With a sequel in the works, which actor would you want to join?

BP: I think I would kidnap someone who everyone thinks can step up the game naturally: Eman Manan.

MA: Hearing that [name] is already making me feel goosebumps. 

BP: Right, exactly. He can enter a space, and everyone would be super focused–

MA: He's always embodied that classic Malay leading man image, but I'd love to see him reinvented in a more contemporary space. With his look, his presence… I think that would be really exciting.

BP: I can imagine that already. That million-dollar look. If it was someone from the younger generation, I would love to see Fimie Don again. I think the industry has somehow forgotten the amount of talent, skill, and commitment Fimie has as an actor. And I think [he] would play off nicely with you guys too.

BP: Do you remember the time when you messed up an important job? 

MA: A little fun fact about me is that I’ve never had a permanent job before acting, because when I joined the creative industry, I had just finished my degree. But before settling into this career, I did several part-time jobs. So, jobs in retail or as a waiter at a restaurant and so on.

One thing I will never forget was working as a food delivery rider and delivering the wrong food order. One customer ordered chicken rice, and I delivered Secret Recipe instead. The orders were stacking up, and it was raining. I was kinda emotional about it. I was mostly blaming myself for the mistake. And at the end of the day, I had to pay for the wrong order.

BP: A learning process.

MA: During semester breaks, I wasn’t allowed to stay at home. My dad would ask me to get a job, so I would learn the value of money.

BP: Respect to your dad. I think that’s the best advice anyone can give to young people.

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MA: Do you remember the time when you got your first big break?

MA: Can I guess it for you? Is it Man Laksa? No, no… it’s Anak Halal, right?

BP: Yes, you got it.

MA: You know what, Anak Halal—There was something almost... spiritual about the whole experience. You could feel it, even behind the camera. Is that right?

BP: There was some sort of intention to make acting look less acting.

MA: And more fun.

BP: [Continues] And more fun as a process but less acting. Because during that period, acting must look as if you’re acting. If you look at other contemporary movies, you see there’s a form of stylised acting. 

MA: Oh, I agree with you. You can tell from Dato' Rosyam Nor’s younger era; it had a different kind of acting.

BP: Yeah, they had this sort of—

MA: Evolution.

BP: Around then, the internet had become much more accessible, so suddenly we were watching behind-the-scenes footage and learning about how filmmakers overseas approached performance. We wanted it to feel almost documentary-like.

So the day that I signed a contract together with Remy Ishak was the day he became my best friend until today. 

So, we were like, “Let’s believe in this.” We don't have to pretend to be friends because it will come naturally.

MA: Another fun fact, during the shoot of Projek: High Council—I think it was episode eight or seven—we had one scene where the students were all watching Anak Halal.

[Astro] Shaw assembled a dream team at that moment—2007, 2006—and it’s proven, since you guys booked so many roles in the following five, ten years. And it’s a metaphor for us as well, knowing that we are next. In other words, we get to feel that spirit of carrying the torch.

BP: That’s a great thing done by Astro Shaw—they consistently produce new talent for the industry, behind and in front of the camera.

MA: Yeah, raw material [laughs]. 

BP: Do you remember the time when you felt most proud of yourself as an actor?

MA: Growing up, my biggest source of dopamine was always my parents. Whenever I was in a competition or performing on stage, all I wanted was for my mum and dad to be there to see me get the award.

That was my biggest reward. I've always had a competitive streak, even as a kid. Winning meant I could look over at them and see how proud they were. Then, after primary school… That all stopped. No more awards through secondary school. It felt like a long drought.

So I made a promise to myself. Once I finished university, I wanted to do something that would make them proud again. Graduating was one goal. But acting became another.

Before I even got my degree, I got to be the champion of Hero Remaja. And that whole process of getting crowned as the Hero Remaja was a very tough process for me. 

That’s why when they announced me as the winner, it felt like a magical moment to me. 

BP: What’s the reaction now [from both of your parents]? Are they like, “Oh, he’s a grown-up now, and he has his own life, and we are supportive,” or are they still chasing that kick?

MA: Oh, they never were the one chasing that kick. It was always me chasing that kick, to prove to them, to get that validation from my mum and dad. And it was also maybe that eldest-son feeling in me—to prove something to my younger siblings. 

BP: Ah, but now that feeling has been validated?

MA: Now, I have been validated through Hero Remaja and some of the pieces I have done, but the only thing I have to prove now is that I am capable of this and to be consistent in what I do.

MA: I think we both have to answer this question. It wouldn't be fair if you answered this all by yourself. Do you remember when you first met me? What was your impression of me?

BP: Was it at the office of Alpha [47]?

MA: Yes, that was my first time meeting you.

BP: Office Alpha, during a wardrobe fitting?

MA: Yes, during a wardrobe fitting.

BP: First impression, eh? “Model”.

But if you’re asking me for a real impression, then maybe at the hotel. So, that’s when I saw you act, and was like, “Oh, as an actor, he’s a sensitive guy.” Not sensitive as in you get hurt easily, but more so in a way where you are aware of the space, the temperature of the room. Am I right? [Laughs]

MA: Do you wanna know something? Way back before I got my break, whenever there was a casting, my introduction was, “Hi, my name is Mierul Aiman. I’m twenty-something years old, I’m studying da da da, and I’m a sensitive person.”

I always said it was my weakness.

BP: Ah, so I’m right lah? [fistbumps Aiman]

MA: Yes, you are right [returns fist bump]. Maybe, because I’m a Cancer baby. Okay, my [first] impression of you—the first time I met Bront Palarae—

BP: You better be for real, or I’ll beat you up [laughs].

MA: Calm down [laughs]. I think my first time knowing who you were was when you were in Bikers Kental. I didn't believe you were a Malay actor back then.

BP: Wait, you were in Bikers Kental? You were there?

MA: No, I meant watching on TV; that was the first time. Then I watched Anak Halal and saw the whole dream team. When I watched it for the first time, I told myself, “This is what you call an actor.” This is the bar, this is the example, this is the template, so I need to find more actors that are like this. 

But the first time I actually met you, I thought you were super humble, super fun and super approachable. And it made me feel very grateful that I got a good leader who showed everyone how a film set should work. 

BP: Do I need to send you a hamper [laughs]?

MA: No, you don’t. But what I mean is, if you didn't do that, there would be no example for me to follow. We all wouldn't have an example to look up to. Especially my first experience of being a hero in a film. And not a lot of people know that being a hero in a film isn't just being a hero in that picture. You also need to be a hero for selling it. 

Thank you for being the blueprint, a template—for showing how to make our industry more beautiful as it evolves. 

BP: Hopefully you can revisit your answer to this last question every now and then. So the question is this—wait, how old are you now?

MA: 28 years old. Turning 28.

BP: Just nice. 12 years from now, what kind of actor or industry player do you want people to see in Mierul Aiman?

MA: Why 12 years? 

BP: Because you’ll be 40 years old then.

MA: I've always believed one thing about myself—before anything else, I'm a performer. And I hold on to that belief as tightly as I can. As long as I'm alive, I want to keep performing.

When I look at the veterans in our industry—people like Adi Putra and so many others—they've never stopped performing. They continue to evolve. That's the kind of career I want.

But I also hope that, by then, I'll be producing. Because actors like Tom Hanks are producers too. Producing gives you the opportunity to build the kind of industry you want to see.

So, at 40… I still want people to see me as a performer. Someone who's committed to doing quality work. But I also want to be a producer who's helping to make things better in the industry.

BP: Whenever things get difficult, whenever you start questioning yourself… Come back to that answer.

Congratulations. That will be my last question. You have been such an inspiration, not only to the young generation but also to my batch. During Tarung, we drew so much energy from you guys. Positivity, good energy, commitment. Hopefully we will have the chance to work together again.

MA: InsyaAllah. I'm looking forward to seeing everything you do next. Not just for Malaysia—but for Asia.

And thank you. For being one of those people we can look up to. A living legend, if I may say so. Someone who's never lost that passion.

Photography: Chuan Looi | Yipieyaya Studio
Creative Direction & Styling: Low Zhen Yang
Interview: Ling Low & Adrianna Haris 
Transcription and Translation: Felisya Elriani
Art Direction: Amirul Arifin
Producer: Ling Low
Grooming: Eranthe Loo
Photo Assistants: Bee Ang & Edison Liew | Yipieyaya Studio 
Styling Assistants: Ezra Motijol & Felisya Elriani