Versatile artiste Faizal Hussein tells Dennis Chua that acting remains his first love despite his talent in singing
FAIZAL Hussein is one of the country’s most versatile actors, and takes after his screen legend father in many ways.
Alor Gajah-born Faizal followed the footsteps of his father, actor-director Hussein Abu Hassan, early in life, and has starred in more than 100 films and television series.
Faizal, born in 1967, made his film debut when he was 5. He acted as the young version of the film Darah Panglima’s protagonist (played by his father).
Darah Panglima was directed by S. Kadarisman.
A decade later, when he was 15, Faizal starred in the love triangle movie Senja Merah alongside the late singer-actor Latif Ibrahim and Datuk Yusof Haslam who would later work closely with him.
His other notable films include Bujang Selamat, Gila-Gila Remaja, Tak Kisahlah Beb, Bayangan Maut, Tuah, Kanta Serigala, XX Ray, Fantasi, Leftenan Adnan, Getaran, KL Menjerit, Gerak Khas The Movie 2, Pontianak Menjerit, Jalang, 2 Alam, Bunohan and Kapsul.
Gila-Gila Remaja marked his first collaboration with his cousin, Datuk Rosyam Nor, and they teamed up again in KL Menjerit.
Faizal won Most Popular Actor at Anugerah Skrin 1993 for Fantasi, and Best Actor at the 25th Malaysian Film Festival in 2013 for Bunohan.
“Bunohan was my most challenging movie to date, as I had to master the Kelantan dialect and fight with a curved traditional dagger. I played a knife-wielding assassin from a dysfunctional family,” said Faizal.
He considers Kapsul as his most memorable movie because it was the first time he starred with a very important individual, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Kapsul was my 44th movie, directed by the late Martias Mohd Ali. I never thought I’d star in a movie with Dr Mahathir, and I will always cherish the five-minute scene we had together in his Putrajaya office.”
In Kapsul, Faizal played Zohri, a man in the present day who is consumed with material things and has forgotten his roots.
“Zohri tests security systems by breaking into establishments to prove that their present system has flaws,” he said.
A dare with his friends prompts him to steal the time capsule which Dr Mahathir had placed at the Putrajaya Monument. As he opens it, he is transported back in time to 1942 into a body of a soldier who fights the Japanese invaders of Malaya.
“Every time the person dies, Zohri finds himself in another random person’s body. The process is repeated each time the person’s life ends.”
Faizal’s next film is Aku Abang Long Rajawali directed by Mamat Khalid and S. Amin Shahab. It tells the story of a silat master’s grandchildren who rediscover their grandfather’s martial art and fight a ruthless villain who is out to kill him.
“It combines silat and cyber technology, thus it helps introduce young Malaysians to a national cultural heritage in an exciting way,” said Faizal. The movie also stars Datuk M. Nasir and Wan Hanafi Su.
Another movie Faizal will appear in is Tujuh directed by Raja Mukhriz. “I play a police officer from the 1970s who investigates bizarre crimes. The movie also stars Siti Saleha Baharom.”
Faizal will be starring in his first Borneo movie titled Tombiruo directed by Nasir Jani.“It’s based on a legend about a superhuman who is the guardian of the forest. He is discovered as a baby by a kind villager, and when he grows up he confronts a greedy developer who tries to destroy his habitat.”
Faizal is honoured to co-star with Hong Kong martial arts actress Kara Wai in Mrs. K, directed by Ho Yuhang. “It’s my first role with a Hong Kong actor, and it’s great to work with Kara. While I appear to be one of the baddies, the heroes are actually the baddies and vice-versa,” said Faizal.
Although Faizal also sings, like his elder sisters Dilla and Fairuz Hussein, acting is his first love. He has also hosted game shows, most notably Kosa Kata.
Faizal believes in giving his all to every role.He finds satisfaction whenever his bad-guy character is jeered at, his heroic character is loved, and his funny character is adored by fans.He is married to Suhaila Sulaiman and they have two children.