New series Madu Atau Racun is an important project for actress Elisya Sandha, as the series marks her comeback after taking a maternity break.
The 27-year-old, who is married to Uzair Haqimy Azman (son of actress Sheila Rusly), gave birth to her second child in 2025.
“I really wanted this comeback to make an impact. I wanted the story to be successful and for this character to leave an impression, so that I could continue receiving better opportunities in the future,” Elisya said.
Her dedication however had her bringing her character home.
“But my husband would remind me, ‘That’s not you. That’s Nikita.’ Then I would realise, ‘Oh yes, this is the character, not me’.”
Madu Atau Racun is a 12- episode series centring on a polygamous marriage involving Adli (Aliff Aziz), Azura (Uqasha Senrose) and Nikita (Elisya).
Her spouse Uzair was also someone she consulted before accepting the role.
Playing the “other woman” meant Elisya would have to film intimate scenes with Aliff, so she spoke to her husband about how he felt about the nature of the role before signing on.
“Because he is also in the industry, he understands that there are camera tricks involved.
“Sometimes when we watch something on television, we might think, ‘Oh, they really kissed,’ but actually it’s just camera angles and techniques. He understands that,” she stressed.
The younger sister of actress Fasha Sandha also praised Aliff for being professional on set, saying they were careful to make sure both were comfortable with what they were doing.
“Before every scene, we would discuss things like, ‘Is this OK?’ or ‘What if I do it this way?’
“I would ask Aliff if he was comfortable, and he would ask me the same thing. We would also discuss everything with Kak Eyra. We didn’t want to overdo it, but we also needed those moments to show the progress of the relationship,” she explained.
Nonetheless, playing a homewrecker is a worry for the actress, especially if audiences are unable to separate Nikita from Elisya.
“As actors, we play different roles. I hope audiences can understand that. In the drama, it’s OK if you dislike Nikita. But outside the drama, don’t hate Elisya,” she said with a laugh.
Madu Atau Racun is streaming on iQiyi.
