Malaysian actor Fred Chan made his showbiz debut in 2019, after spending more than 10 years as a teacher. Photos: Handout
Malaysian acting talents have been making huge strides on the global stage in recent years.
From Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh’s historic Oscar win in 2023 to Jack Tan’s Best Supporting Actor nod at the Golden Horse Awards the same year, our stars are proving they can shine anywhere.
But beyond Hollywood and Chinese cinema, more local stars are now carving a space in the Indian film scene.
In 2011, Datuk Adi Putra appeared in the hit heist film Don 2, followed by Datuk Rosyam Nor in the 2016 blockbuster Kabali, and Irfan Zaini in the 2024 movie The Greatest Of All Time.
Another landmark moment came with 120 Bahadur, which features local actors Fred Chan and Seng Soo Ming.
The pair made history as the first Malaysians to be cast as leading antagonists in a Bollywood production, playing Capt Aimer and Major Memeti, respectively.
Chan (right) and Seng Soo Ming star as Capt Aimer and Major Memeti, respectively.In an interview with StarLifestyle, Chan said the opportunity came to him through Seng, who is also his mentor.
“Someone had approached him, asking for recommendations for Chinese actors.
“He told me about this opportunity, so I got in touch with the casting department and sent in my casting video,” he shared.
The 39-year-old Penangite added that he was drawn to the role because of his love for experiencing different filmmaking environments.
“I want to work with as many different productions as possible because I love learning from different people.”
After waiting for two months, Chan finally received the call confirming his part.
Helmed by Indian filmmaker Razneesh Ghai, 120 Bahadur is based on real-life events, depicting the Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
It chronicles the sacrifice of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati and his 120 soldiers who bravely defended their post against overwhelming Chinese forces.
The movie also stars Indian actors Farhan Akhtar, Raashii Khanna, Vivan Bhatena and Ankit Siwach.
Unforgettable moments
One aspect of Bollywood filmmaking that amazed Chan was the advanced equipment.
The actor recalled seeing a snow- making machine for the first time.
“It’s spectacular because the team was able to cover much of the large hill we were filming on in fake snow,” he said.
“There was also plenty of big equipment that I’d never seen before in Malaysia, including the types of lights and smoke machines used... They were huge!”
Among the challenges that came with playing Capt Aimer were adopting a mainland Chinese accent and studying military commands in Chinese.
“While I had been part of a uniformed group in school, most of the commands were in Malay or English,” he said.
For his role as Capt Aimer, Chan had to learn how to use an assault rifle.To add authenticity to his portrayal, Chan had to learn how to use an assault rifle – a task that was surprisingly easy for him.
“I’ve handled a pistol in previous movies but never a rifle. It was one of the more unforgettable moments, aside from the snow machine,” he said, smiling.
Interestingly, this isn’t Chan’s first venture into Bollywood.
In 2024, he held a minor role in Indian filmmaker Vasan Bala’s action-thriller film Jigra.
Dealing with rejection
Before acting, Chan – who had regularly participated in stage productions during his university days – spent over 10 years as a teacher.
Despite a stable career, he chose to pursue acting full-time as he didn’t want to have any regrets.
“One of the hardest things is dealing with rejection. It’s easy to feel demotivated because of constant rejections in this line of work, but it’s something I have to be mentally prepared for.
“I have to keep telling myself not to give up and to keep trying,” he said, crediting his family and friends for keeping him grounded.
Chan’s perseverance eventually paid off.
Since his acting debut in 2019, Chan has starred in projects like Titoudao (2019), Forget Me Not (2022), Pendatang (2023), Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story (2024) and more.
When asked about future aspirations, Chan shared his desire to tackle diverse roles, including portraying characters with disabilities.
“There’s so many other roles I want to portray. It’s hard to pinpoint just one specific character, but if given the chance, I’d like to portray a person with disabilities.
“I think it would be a good challenge as it requires careful research and understanding,” he said.
