Anding Zaini tells Dennis Chua that he is honoured to once again step into the shoes of a KL boy who inspires a nation
ANDING Indrawani Zaini has come a long way since the second season of Astro’s popular reality talent show Akademi Fantasia in 2004. Although he was voted out early, finishing 10th, the Kuching-born has persevered to make a name for himself in show business.
He completed his performing arts degree at Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam and appeared in dozens of television programmes and series, not to mention musicals at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur. The beefy graduate of Melanau-Bidayuh descent specialised in filmmaking and flexed his artistic muscles at UiTM’s annual Hari Karyawan (Artistes’ Day) by winning Best Cameraman, Best Director and Best Film for Koloni Sampah in 2003.
Anding, who spent his early education in Sekolah Rendah Agama Datuk Abdul Kadir Hassan, Kuching and Sekolah Kebangsaan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur subsequently spent two years as a radio presenter in Red FM beginning 2005.
He also starred in Akademi Polis, Ghost 2, Gitar Tua, Impian, Klon Teja, Cinta Terakhir, Lima, Mahabbah D’Laila and 10, among other drama series.
STORY OF KUALA LUMPUR
Anding is starring in Mud: The Story Of Kuala Lumpur, jointly presented by Enfiniti Productions and KL City Hall at Panggung Bandaraya, Jalan Raja. In the musical, set to run for three years, he takes on the role of the protagonist Mamat, the young assistant of the district magistrate in 1880s KL, who helps people find jobs in the then mining town.
“I’ve always wanted to play an epic historical role as I love Malaysian history.”
He shares similar values with his character as “he is colour blind when it comes to race relations, hospitable, diligent, with a never-say-die attitude.”
It is challenging to be Mamat as “there were no video cameras back then” to record the lives of city dwellers, so Anding does his best to imagine how they were in that era.
“I’ve seen old photos of British-ruled Malaya, and read some history books to prepare myself. I’m happy that viewers and the production team have given me positive feedback,” he says.
Anding enjoys working with Mud executive producer Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina, who was AF’s seventh season’s principal in 2009. Under her guidance, Anding’s close friend Hafiz Suip emerged as AF’s first Kuching-born winner and launched a successful singing career.
“I’ve always wanted to work with Tiara, and I’m pleased that my dream has been fulfilled. She’s a perfectionist who expects 200 per cent commitment from all. I believe that as actors, we have to break out of our comfort zone to better ourselves,” says Anding who takes over the role of Mamat from Sabah-born arts lecturer Amandus Paul, for three months.
MAKING A MARK
Anding’s most notable appearances on the big and small screen are Tonton’s Dan Calonnya Adalah ... with Faralyna Idris, Maria Tunku Sabri and Kim Jun Sung, KRU’s musical television series Hotel Mania (2010) with fellow AF2 graduates Bob Yusof and Adam Mat Saman, and Bernard Chauly’s 2006 movie Gol Dan Gincu with Nur Fazura Sharifuddin.
“I’ve received lots of positive feedback for Ghost 2 where I played Alam, who’s haunted by his past. The same goes for Hotel Mania, where I was Adiwira, who grew into a street-wise person with his demanding new job.”
In the last three years, Anding has found a new calling in musical theatre. His portrayal of terminally ill street artist Dhani in Terima Kasih Cinta (2011), directed by Mud associate director Pat Ibrahim, won him rave reviews.
“I was delighted to star in this musical adaptation of Kabir Bhatia’s beautiful 2006 movie, Cinta.
It was an honour to step into the shoes of Que Haidar’s iconic character from the movie,” says Anding, whose co-star was an old friend, singer-actress from Kuching, Deja Moss.
Last year, he was featured in Saw Tiong Hin’s musical tribute to Datuk Sudirman Arshad, Chow Kit Road! Chow Kit Road!
“I loved that musical because it’s an educational and thought-provoking story about accepting people for who they are. Furthermore, it was a tribute to my hero, Sudirman, who inspired me to sing, dance and act.”
Anding says musicals allows him to combine acting, singing and dancing. “I hope that Mud will travel to neighbouring countries such as Singapore. It’s a beautiful story about Kuala Lumpur.”
As a TV host, Anding has just finished filming a new travelogue in Morocco, Spain, Gibraltar and Portugal. “I love travelogues because I love travelling. It helps broaden my outlook on life and gives me the opportunity to make new friends,” he says, adding that he will be starring in more television dramas.
Mud: The Story Of Kuala Lumpur is staged at 8.30pm and 3pm daily (except Mondays) at Panggung Bandaraya in Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur. For tickets (between RM45 and RM60), go to
mudkl.com/