Action star Hairul Azreen suffers serious knee injury on set of Syamsul Yusof's new film

The busy actor has no choice but to go on a hiatus to heal properly. Photo: Hairul Azreen/Instagram

Actor Hairul Azreen took to Instagram on Tuesday (Feb 14) to share that he's suffered serious injury to his left knee while filming the movie The Original Gangster.

In the photo he posted, the action star can be seen getting initial treatment on set while director Syamsul Yusof looks on.

The 34-year-old actor explained in the caption that the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of his left knee is torn. (ACL is one of the key ligaments that help stabilise the knee joint.)

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform I am unable to continue in the production of The OG. My apologies to my friends and the production team.

“It is time for me to rest,” he wrote, perhaps recalling the phrase he often uses to motivate himself which is “The Best Never Rest”.

Other photos on his Instagram showed him grimacing in pain while getting treatment in the hospital, as well going for an MRI scan.

Hairul, however, did not elaborate how the injury happened.

It is also unclear if Syamsul will continue shooting the movie which features an impressive line-up including Datuk Aaron Aziz, Datuk Adi Putra, Datuk Rosyam Nor, Beto Kusyairy, Sharnaaz Ahmad, Shaheizy Sam, Nas-T, Soffi Jikan, Pablo Amirul and Indonesian martial arts star Yayan Ruhian.

Hairul, a former stuntman who's had training in martial arts since young, is known for top-notch Malaysian action films including Paskal: The Movie, The Assistant and Wira.

Over the course of making these movies, he has suffered multiple injuries including a broken bone in his finger for Paskal and a torn ligament on his right leg for the film Wira.

Both times he decided to continue filming despite the injury as he didn't want to disrupt the production and cause delay to the movie's filming schedule.

So, it is very unlike him to publicise his injury, or to take a break unless the situation demands it.

For his honesty, Hairul received over 900 "get well" and encouraging comments from his Instagram followers, including friends The Assistant co-star Iedil Dzuhri Alaudin, Yayan who appeared in Wira and Ada Hantu actor Zahiril Adzim.