Meerqeen is currently preparing for a role that he says will surprise his fans. Photo, Styling: Colin Sim; Makeup, Hair: Keith & Pika
It made perfect sense to director Indra Putra – better known as Sanji – to cast three good-looking actors as the leads of his first live-action film, Klepet, especially since the story centres on three childhood friends.
And it certainly helps that these actors already know one another in real life.
Sanji cast popular leading men Meerqeen, Aedy Ashraf and Nadhir Nasar for his road trip comedy. Here's the thing though: they are known more for the drama genre.
“I don’t understand why I’m the first director to bring these three actors together in a movie,” Sanji tells StarLifestyle at the Klepet gala premiere.
"I knew I wanted to cast them when I had the script, even though they are not comedy actors.
"They’re friends in real life, so it was easy for me to create their dynamic on set."
He goes on to say that the actors' natural chemistry was so strong that he allowed them to improvise extensively on set, believing that spontaneity was key to capturing the authenticity of their friendship and elevating the film’s comedic moments.
Sanji recalls one moment in particular: “There are a number of scenes they improvised that I kept in the movie, including a funny scene where they move in a way that’s completely confusing while holding each other’s arms. That was completely them.”
(From left) Aedy, Meerqeen and Nadhir say they had a lot of fun making Klepet even though comedy is something new to them. — Photos: Handout
Meerqeen, whose stage name is a blend of his full name Muhammad Shameer Shauqeen, says the comedy in Klepet works precisely because all three of them were performing together.
“Maybe if it was just me, it wouldn’t be as funny as when it’s the three of us,” the 24-year-old admits.
"The script was there, but we improvised a lot on set."
Nadhir continues by saying that it was important Sanji gave them the opportunity to "play around" with the characters while the camera was rolling.
"When actors are able to create their own dialogue and the environment they want to project to the audience, the performance becomes more grounded instead of forced," says the 28-year-old, who entered the industry via the talent competition Hero Remaja.
He joined the competition the year after Meerqeen participated in 2019.
Aedy adds that, in many ways, the actors are simply playing a version of themselves in Klepet, allowing their inner child to shine through in characters who behave rather immaturely.
“I’d say about 65% of me is in my character, Paly,” the 32-year-old tells StarLifestyle.
“Nadhir is a very nice guy in real life, just like his character (Jany) in this movie.”
As for Meerqeen, Aedy jokingly says: “I think 99.9% of Meerqeen’s real personality can be seen in Klepet. That’s really how he is with close friends.
"Meerqeen is a genuinely funny guy, but audiences don’t usually get to see that side of him in dramas or other films.
"In this movie, they finally will. He can be the next Jim Carrey.”
Aedy may be right.
Although Meerqeen is best known for his roles in TV melodramas such as Angkara Cinta, Melur Untuk Firdaus, Cinta Untuk Sekali Lagi and the crime drama Framed: Can You Change Your Fate?, he proves in Klepet that he has strong comedic chops, earning some of the biggest laughs as the clueless Wady.
The towering actor admits that it was initially difficult for him to tap into comedy, as it’s not his usual genre.
“But I can be quite funny when I’m hanging out with my friends. So I applied that sense of humour to my character in Klepet,” explains Meerqeen, who is said to be on a nine-month acting break currently to fully immerse himself for a new film role which also requires a physical transformation.
Director Sanji (centre) is happy to allow his actors to improvise on set.
Klepet kicks off with three friends – Paly, Jany and Wady – travelling in their motorhome and having fun together. While camping outdoors one night, a foreign woman (Ukraine-born Darina Porhun), who has escaped a human trafficking ring, stumbles into their vehicle.
She also happens to be the sole witness to a murder, which means both the traffickers and a relentless hitman are now after her.Instead of bringing the young woman to the authorities, the three friends continue their journey with the woman in tow, unsure of what to do. Things get even messier when they cross paths with the hitman (Aeril Zafrel) and make the disastrous decision to take his bag of cash.
Klepet, which in the film's context means “to cheat” or “to lie”, also features striking animated elements thanks to Sanji’s background in animation.
For Nadhir, another interesting aspect of the film is its fast-paced action and quick edits.
"This fast pace should suit the younger audience’s taste," says Nadhir, referring to the report that young people have shorter attention spans than adults.Director Sanji shot the film in just 25 days in 2023, with a budget of RM2.6mil at various locations in Melaka.
However, Meerqeen says shooting a film under a month as challenging.
“We really had to cram every idea quickly so we could move on to the next scene,” he elaborates.
Nonetheless, he says because all the actors got along so well, they were able to work efficiently and bring each scene to life.
“I really enjoyed the entire filming process with the other actors. Everything came together naturally,” he adds.
Sanji hopes audiences will embrace Klepet – a film that includes comedy, animation and a road-trip adventure in one.
“Klepet combines multi-layered comedy, from physical and animation-inspired humour to spontaneous jokes tailored to each scene. "This approach makes Klepet stand out compared to the action-comedy films audiences have seen before,” says Sanji, who is a fan of Hong Kong actor-director Stephen Chow's films.
Meanwhile, according to Aedy, Klepet is more than just a comedy – it carries a meaningful message for the youth.
“When I first read the script, I saw one clear problem that the boys in the story face: they have big dreams, but they don’t know how to get there. That’s why they’re easily swayed or led astray," Aedy tells us.
“And I think many young people today face the same issue. "Everyone says they have dreams – I want this, I want that – but if they don’t know the steps to achieve those dreams, they’re going to run into problems.
“So for me, that’s the most important part: the message we want to give the audience through this light-hearted, road trip comedy.”
Similarly, Aeril, who also serves as Klepet’s producer, says while the film is meant for entertainment, he hopes audiences also reflect on its message about friendship.
“We made Klepet not just for laughs. It also carries inspirational messages, especially for the younger generation. "For example, the film highlights the true meaning of friendship, sacrifice and supporting one another.”
Aeril hopes that if the film is successful, a sequel could be possible if the cast is keen to reprise their roles.
Klepet is showing at cinemas nationwide.
Jany (Nadhir) decides to help out the woman (Darina) in his own way.
