MULTI-TALENTED Qi Razali has yet to be a dad, and in fact is still single.
But he has just donned his first "dad outfit" on the silver screen and the producer and director behind it have passed him with flying colours.
ENERGY
"I channelled the energy of my late father into my latest role. But even then it was a major challenge to be a parent as nothing beats being one in real life," said Qi at the recent launch of his latest movie 'Babah' at Ken TTDI in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
In 'Babah', a production of Nads Media Entertainment directed by Mohd Shah Faizul Ibrahim, Qi plays a deaf father named Isyak who loves his only child Maya dearly.
He and Maya communicate with sign language and only they can understand each other, hence their closeness and his unwillingness to "let her go" once she finds love with her childhood friend Ikmal.
DEAF
"Playing Isyak was a double challenge for me — learning to be a parent and also a deaf man," said Qi.
"To make my character come alive, I had to rely on two great 'teachers' namely my late father and a sign language teacher who was roped in to coach me and my co-stars."
COOL
Penang-born Qi, 47, described Isyak as a "cool parent" who is a good friend of Maya.
"My father, who died two years ago was like that, and my three elder siblings and I miss him dearly.
"That is why I said yes to playing Isyak, he is a character who is so much like my father, whom I also addressed as Babah," said Qi.
KUANTAN
'Babah', was filmed over a month in Kuantan and the Klang Valley in August last year.
It marked Qi's first collaboration with actress Sweet Qismina who played Maya and they "bonded magically" on the set.
"Sweet lost her father when she was only 11, and that was more than a decade ago.
"As both of us miss our fathers, we shared something in common and that brought out the chemistry between us," said Qi.
SIGN LANGUAGE
To play Isyak, Qi learnt basic sign language in two weeks and got into his character throughout filming.
"I had to be Isyak off the set in order to make my character realistic.
"I became my usual self only after the director said it was a wrap," he said, adding that Isyak was his most challenging role.
TERRORIST
Qi's last big screen role was that of a terrorist leader in 'War On Terror: KL Anarki' last year.
His dream role is that of a tough law enforcement officer.
"It is good to be a nice man after playing a terrorist in War On Terror.
"My dream role is to play a tough special forces leader who busts terrorists."
DRUMMER
Qi, a former drummer of the rock band OAG, first found fame in the 8TV comedy series 'Blogger Boy' in 2009.
He has appeared in six films and 19 telemovies and drama series.
He has also hosted culinary shows as 'Jalan Jalan Cari Makan' on TV3 and 'Destinasi Bajet' on 8TV.
SHIRTS
Introduced to music by his elder brother Shaarin Razali of the rock group Black Rose, Qi conducts acting classes for youngsters and own a factory making tie-dye T-shirts in Ulu Yam, Selangor.
The film's producer Nadia Nadzri said that 'Babah' highlighted the love between father and daughter which was rarely mentioned.
"For a daughter, her father is the first love in life to take care of and protect her.
"For a father, his daughter is his favourite princess forever," she said.
DISORDER
Nadia was inspired to make 'Babah' after watching a viral video clip about a father performing sign language at his daughter's wedding.
Nadia also watched a video of a woman with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an auto immune disorder that can paralyse the nervous system.
"This gave me an idea to produce a film that was touching, yet heart-warming and close to the hearts of Malaysian parents and children," she said.
ADULTHOOD
Mohd Shah said that Babah was the story of the sacrifice of a father for his daughter.
"And when Maya's adulthood is tested by serious misfortunes, Isyak is the one she relies on," he said.
Besides Qi and Sweet, Babah also stars Cristina Suzanne, Adam Lee and Kis Aisha.
Babah will premiere in cinemas nationwide on Dec 5.