Che Ta’s stylish family heads to the small screen, writes Syahirah Mokhtazar
SCROLL through popular actress Rozita Che Wan’s (Che Ta) Instagram account and you’ll find her profile peppered with snapshots of her lavish lifestyle.
Thanks to her personal photographer who pretty much follows her around, her 2.8 million followers on Instagram can get a peek at what Che Ta chooses to show on social media.
There’s no denying the actress has a knack for high-end fashion. She happily flaunts her glamorous outfits of the day which usually comprises dramatic, glittery ensembles with matching designer handbags and sky-high stilettos. Even her “casual” outfit is pretty much a “dress up” kinda day for us mere mortals.
Picturesque travel photos to exotic locations leave fans back home biting their fingers, wishing they could switch places with the 43-year-old. Needless to say, the actress leads a fashionable, fabulous life. And despite not being super active in acting as of late, it’s her lifestyle that still fascinates fans and followers.
Fun fact: She reportedly packs 20 suitcases every time she travels overseas with her actor husband Zain Saidin, 33, her two sons Ammar Effendy, 21, Aniq Ezra,19, and the adorable Aaisyah Dhia Rana who turns 3 this year.
Her constant updates on social media have not just garnered the attention of fans but also Astro. The satellite TV company is featuring Che Ta and her fabulous family in the latest and third season of the hit reality TV show titled The House. But one would think she has enough publicity to last a lifetime, so why would the actress agree to be featured in a reality TV show?
“An offer from Astro is always a door to great opportunities. Plus, the payment is substantial,” said the artiste, when met at the launch of The House Season 3.
“Instead of sharing my life updates on Instagram which I obviously don’t get paid for, why not show a little bit more and gain some income out of it, no? I’m sure anyone who is in my position would also take up the offer,” she quipped.
NOT AFRAID
“I’m not one to ponder what people’s perceptions are towards me. As it is, people already have a lot to say when they look at my Instagram posts, so I’m used to reading both good and bad comments,” she said.
“Different people lead different lives and that’s where we have to be a little bit more accepting and open-minded. Whatever you do, people will have something bad to say about it anyway and that’s a fact of life. You can’t make everyone like you.
“Plus, it’s not like my family and I reveal our lives on camera a 100 per cent on this show. There are still some details we’d like to keep private,” she said. “Even on Instagram, I don’t normally document every single thing from the minute I wake up to the moment I sleep.
“As for Aaisyah, I only post throwback pictures of her. This is to ensure her safety too. I am well aware there are risks when you expose your kids too much on social media,” she said. But she certainly doesn’t mind if one day her sons’ popularity triumphs over hers.
“It’ll be good for them as it opens doors to more job possibilities. Even so, they are not interested in acting.”
THE SIMPLE LIFE
The House is Astro Gempak’s hit reality TV series which, in the first season, featured actress Emma Maembong and her sisters. The second season showcased the life of famous entrepreneur Datuk Seri Vida and family, who is famous for her Qu Puteh products.
The concept of the show requires family members to live in a house for a certain period of time and do activities together as a family with cameras following their every move. As for Che Ta’s family, they had to live in a house in the rural area of Ulu Langat.
Che Ta, who is used to having an entourage of make-up artist, photographer, maid, and a personal assistant following her, was not allowed any of that while filming for the reality show, which spanned eight days in October last year. “Frankly, that was not a reality for me, haha!” she laughed.
“There was no line, no wi-fi, so it was definitely hard. Not just for me as I have a business to manage, but for my sons too,” she added.
The House Season 3 debuted its first episode on Wednesday (Jan 25) and already the family had a few challenges to overcome. Che Ta was instructed to cook a Malay kampung-style breakfast for the family, while Ammar and Aniq had to collect eggs from the chicken coop early in the morning.
“I don’t normally cook at home. So fans will get to see a different side of me in this six-episode reality show. They might also get to see my make-up-free face. That is if the production team didn’t edit that out,” she said. Jokes aside, the actress expressed that they’ve bonded as a family with no interruption from phones and gadgets. “It was nice to see my kids participate in activities together, like Malay traditional games they’d never heard of, such as baling tin and teng-teng.
On another note, the actress’ talk show Teh Tarik Che Ta will return for a third season this April for 13 episodes on RTM1.
When asked if she is considering quitting acting, she said: “No not yet. At the moment I enjoy hosting because I feel that I can be creative but at the same time, be myself. But that doesn’t mean I will stop acting,” she said.
Catch The House Season 3, on Astro every Wednesday on Astro Ria (104) and Astro Ria HD (123) at 9.30pm.