2

TUESDAY
30 October
2007

COVER
STORY

The Ticket airs at 8pm

on Wednesdays, while
Popparazzi is on every
Monday to Friday at
6pm. Channel [V] is now
available on Astro
Channel 714.

Whats eating Nicholas Saputra?

Nicholas Saputra is the
latest VJ addition to the
glamorous Channel [V]
family, but his past
experiences, and close
friends, are what keep him
grounded.
STORIES BY NIKI CHEONG
AT FIRST glance, Indonesian actor-cum-model
Nicholas Saputra is everything you would have
imagined him to be. The 22-year-old celebrity
is tall, dark and handsome.
Walk a few inches closer though and youd
have a few more words to describe him. How
about aloof, brooding and cold? Seems harsh?
Hardly. Since he first made headlines in his
home country, and around the Asia region at
the age of 17 with hit movie Ada Apa Dengan
Cinta?, lots has been said about Nicholass
attitude and public persona.
Just perform a quick search on the Internet
for Nicholas and youre bound to come across
articles and forums discussing this aloofness.
Most refer to an incident early in his career
where he was reported to have made a
journalist cry he simply refused to answer
certain personal questions, and told the person
off for asking such things too.
Nicholas is aware of this reputation, but is
quick to brush it off.
It comes from journalists, the charming
young man explained. But its alright.
Of course, he is saying this almost six years
later, when his celebrity status has grown
considerably thanks to several starring roles
in films like Janji Joni and Gie.
Apart from that, Nicholas has also obtained
an architectural degree from the University of
Nicholas with co-star Rachel
Maryam Sayidina in Janji Joni.

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Indonesia. And his latest venture? Guest presenting on Channel [V].
He explained, in retrospect, that the said
incident could be due to the sort of characters
he portrays in his movies. In Ada Apa, his
breakout movie, Nicholas played a cold,
stubborn and disagreeable character. Because
of the films massive response, Nicholas has
constantly remained associated with it, and by
default, the character he played.
Its also when I go around promoting the
shows, he added. You cant have anything
you want. You have to be connected to the
character.
But thats okay. You cant blame anyone
because theres nothing to be blamed.
Still, you cant really blame the actor for
having a less-than-approachable public persona. Fans have commented that he seldom

smiles in pictures, and that he appears

unapproachable. Then again, you cant blame
him considering the sort of attention he
received at a young age.
Unapologetically, he explained that one of
the reasons could be the trauma he experienced when Ada Apa was first released.
I had trauma because of my first film ... it
was too big for a high school boy, Nicholas
said. I remember thinking to myself so many
times, Oh my God, this is too much.
It is hard to blame him. At one of his first
meet-and-greet sessions to promote the film,
Nicholas walked into the shopping mall greeted by about 25,000 screaming fans.
You could not see the floor, he recalled. It
was packed, all five floors. The elevators
stopped.
(The fans) grab you, they touch you, pulling

at you and then you start bleeding.

But was there any part of him that enjoyed
the attention?
No, I didnt enjoy it, but you have to do it.
That was Nicholas commitment to his
career, and an indication of his professionalism.
In my early age, 16 to 17, I was already in
the film industry, he said. I quickly learnt to
understand (the industry), about professionalism, how to manage yourself.
These days however, Nicholas is having a
better time. The attention on him has
decreased, something he attribute to the fact
that fans can see me anytime ... and there are
so many new actors now.
He is able to go out in public on his own
these days, but he is still cautious of the smaller cities in Indonesia, where celebrity sightings
might be less common than in cities such as
Jakarta.
If I got to the mall, there might be two to
three girls giggling, he said when asked to
describe an average day out. There is rarely
chasing, not like before.
He said that things have been this way a
couple of years after he came under the limelike.
(Nowadays), people prefer to come up and
ask, How are you? Some ask for autographs
but they are not yelling, or screaming.
He also doesnt anticipate any of this changing even with a regional job at Channel [V]
where he hosts Screentime on The Ticket and
Popparazzi. He is still based in Indonesia, but
regularly flies into Kuala Lumpur now to shoot
for the shows.
By the end of the interview, it was hard to
imagine that the award-winning actor was
ever difficult, let alone cause a journalist to
cry. In fact, after talking to him and watching
him mess around with his colleagues, one
could find a few more words to describe
young Nicholas Saputra witty, playful and
casual.

With veteran actor Gita

Rollies in Janji Joni.

CREDITS
Outfit: Armani Exchange,
Esprit, Energie
Venue: The Attic KL, Jalan
Bangkung, Bangsar
Pictures by: CHAN TAK KONG

COVER
STORY

3
TUESDAY
30 October
2007

Different layers
WHILE his reputation for being unapproachable may
precede him, Nicholas could not be anymore different
in person. As he was getting his hair and makeup done
in preparation for the photoshoot, the young man was
lively and energetic, joking around with his colleagues.
Dressed in a crumpled shirt, knee-length pants and
flip-flops, Nicholas hardly looked like the celebrated
Indonesian film star that he is. When his colleagues
started playing a game of Name the capital city of
this country, Nicholas was quick to join in, both
showing off his geographical knowledge and playfulness at the same time he threw in a few gag
answers every now and then.
Later, looking at some printouts from the Internet
that I had brought along with me, Nicholas was animated, especially when he started looking at old photos of himself and explaining where they were shot.
When was this taken? he suddenly exclaimed
when he saw a photo he had taken with a fan. Oh
gosh, look at my hair! he said, pointing at another
picture. In moments like those, you see a different
facet of his personality the fun, boisterous and
cheeky side of him shines.
As an actor, he explained. I have so many layers
so I am able to put myself in the right position in different situations.
That has been his approach to life, particularly after
starting his movie career and also the reason why hes
attempted to venture into so many different things
from his hobbies, to work and even his studies.
It is important for actors to have many layers, and
pull it out (when necessary).
This is also a significant trait for Nicholas, considering the many different situations he finds himself in
by choice, of course.
I like it. Sometimes you get bored with the one situation only working on a movie, or high school, or just
university, he said.
Even during at the interview, you could see the
many different sides to him. With his colleagues, he is
easy-going. With the photographer, he is accommodating and during the interview, he was a professional. Most of all, however, he comes across as down to
earth.
Nicholas is quick to admit that hes changed as a
person since his first movie Ada Apa was really big!
but he doesnt indulge too much in his ego. Perhaps
this comes from him not taking everything people say
about him the good and the bad too seriously, or
to heart. He rarely read articles about himself, or look
himself up on the Internet.
I havent checked it out, he said. Im not interested. I just focus on (work).
But I get feedback from my friends, closest friends.