HIS good looks belies a head for for numbers. However, actor Aiman Hakim Ridza has found a home in the entertainment scene.
Marking his film debut in Kimchi Untuk Awak (now in cinemas), the advanced diploma in accountancy holder said he did not regret pulling out from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) programme he was pursuing at Sunway College.
When the 28-year-old tried his luck at TV3’s singing reality show Mentor Season 5 in 2011, he realised that a career in the entertainment industry was his calling, never mind that he was booted out in the fourth round.
He did not give up on his dreams. It did not take long for him to find himself landing roles in a string of television dramas.
When he starred in the hit TV series Projek Memikat Suami and Isteri Separuh Masa, Aiman knew he had hit a home run in acting.
Asked whether he would complete his ACCA examination, Aiman said it had crossed his mind.
“It would take me 15 years to complete the examinations. Since I have been busy with acting, I haven’t found the time to get on it,” said the artiste of Malay-Arab parentage, who is gifted with the knowledge and understanding of numbers since school. “My parents have no issues about my career change as they gave me a free rein in deciding my future.”
After six years of small screen roles, Aiman finally made a big screen debut with Michael Ang’s rom-com Kimchi Untuk Awak.
The Johor-born plays half Korean, half Malay Daniel Lee Jae-hwan who finds himself in an arranged marriage.
“Acting in a film is more satisfying as it enables me to further develop my character,” he said at the film’s gala screening at GSC Pavilion recently.
Kimchi Untuk Awak contains intimate scenes between Aiman and his co-star Emma Maembong. One of the scenes, which drew flak from some quarters, was when he carried Emma on his back.
“I think we should stop focusing on things like this. What’s important is the movie’s storyline and message,” he said.
In terms of his singing career, Aiman, who has released three singles to date, is hopeful that he would be able to record more singles soon.
Among the songs are Isyarat Hati and Khalimah Janji, both composed by Adi of Sixth Sense.
“I want to also focus on my singing career,” said Aiman, who recently set up his own music studio AHR Jamming Studio & Music Academy in Ara Damansara.