FORMER model and actor Edika Yusof, who disappeared from the public eye for more than 20 years ago, is back. TAHIR ALHAMZAH finds out what he’s been up to.
FOR those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, the name Edika Yusof may ring a bell. A celebrated top model revered by many; women wanted to date him, while men wanted to be him.
Edika misses acting, but had to pass on many opportunities which came his way over the past 12 years due to family commitments.
The 49-year-old artiste had to care for his wife, Norhidayah Yusri, who became semi-paralysed after giving birth to their daughter, Fareena Nurul Haq, making it impossible for him to accept any acting offers.
“I have been receiving offers to act, but I could not accept them as I also needed to see to my wife’s needs.
“We had maids, but when it comes to carrying and lifting her, I am still needed at home,” said Edika, who last appeared in Datuk Yusof Haslam’s 1996 hit movie Maria Mariana before calling it quits.
Edika said earlier on, he had to be by her side at all the times, especially when the kids were still young.
Now that they’re older — 12, 13 and 18 — Edika is grateful that they have learnt to take on some of the of the responsibilities.
“In some ways, they remind me of how I grew up, too. Being the eldest of six siblings, I helped my parents look after them.
“In fact, I only got married after all of them had settled down first,” said Edika.
Due to the situation, Edika resolved to work from home. He is now an entrepreneur doing graphic design and printing works.
“I’m grateful for people like Datuk (Seri Shah Raja Rezza Shah a.k.a. Shah Rezza), who gave me many jobs, such as for his IFF (Islamic Fashion Festival),” said the father of three, who is marking his screen comeback in Shah Rezza’s latest film, Permata Hati, which premiered on Astro First last Thursday.
“When Shah Rezza offered me a role in the film, he already knew the situation I am in. So, he worked out a schedule that allowed me to still attend to my wife,” said Edika.
Edika says his wife is his better half in more ways than one. Norhidayah is the person responsible for all the designs in their business. Among their latest projects was producing the print floral print hijab line for well-known florist and designer Razak Ahmad.
They also just launched their skincare range, called Formula One Astavita+.
Edika shot to fame in the mid-1980s when his looks landed him modelling jobs while still in his teens.
“My first modelling job was for a television advertisement TV commercial for Wrangler Jeans with Kavita Sidhu.
“At that time, I was 16 and she was only 13,” said the former student of St John’s Institution.
Next, he did an advertisement for Pepsi, followed by the one that got him noticed by almost every teenage girl in Malaysia - a stint with a cigarette brand called Kingsway.
Towering at 186cm, Edika was perfect for the fashion runway. During his modelling heydays, besides parading clothes locally, Edika was busy strutting the catwalks in Paris and Milan.
“Acting offers started pouring in soon after. In all, I’ve done did 30 telemovies and five films, including Driving School, XX Ray and Awas,” said the actor, who also spent five years as an air steward with the national carrier Malaysia Airlines between 1990 and 1995.
With his three children all grown up, - 12, 13 and 18 - Edika is hopeful that there will be more opportunities for him to flex his acting muscles.