A whole new world
KL Gangster Underworld pushes the envelope on the local TV scene.
KL Gangster Underworld cast members are relishing the freedom and leeway afforded by the envelope-pushing web series.
The six-episode show is testing the waters quite a bit, letting expletives fly here and there, something virtually unheard of in most local TV shows and films.
KL Gangster Underworld, a spinoff of the popular KL Gangster film series, opens with gang member Shah (Beto Kusyairy) wanting to change his ways after falling in love with Elina (Ezzaty Abdullah), who runs a brothel.
Jointly produced by iflix and Skop Productions, the show chronicles Shah’s journey as he tries to get out of the gangster world.
“As an actor, there’s an emotional journey you go through as that character. Being able to curse and let it out, you feel more satisfied,” Beto talks about this newfound freedom.
“At the same time, we still take care of the sensitivities of our viewers. It is made in Malaysia. We are not too open. There are boundaries that we observe. It’s still not too daring,” he assures.
Zahiril Adzim, who plays fellow gang member Adi, believes the coarse language on the show is not used for the sake of it, but to offer an accurate depiction of the life of a gangster.
“I want people to see this character and go, ‘I’ve met people who speak like that’. I want people to see this character as someone real,” he shares.
“I feel guilty if I’m not acting as real as I can because the makeup and the props department have put in so much effort to make the show look as real as possible. So I want to do justice to all their efforts.”
Meanwhile, Ezzaty cherished the opportunity to be a part of the show so much the new mum even cut short her confinement period.
“I was excited to take on this role because playing a madam is something totally different from who I am. I knew if I rejected this offer, I don’t know when I would be able to get a role like this again,” she says.
In portraying the life of a madam, Ezzaty shares there were some things she would not do, and director Faisal Ishak understood.
For one, her character was required to smoke initially. “I told him, ‘I can’t smoke, I also can’t hold a cigarette.’ It’s just a principle I’ve held on to since the day I started acting.”
When it comes to wearing revealing outfits to bring her character to life, Ezzaty says she wore only what she was comfortable with.
“The wardrobe was very sexy for my standards. The ones that I could wear, I wore. The ones that I couldn’t, I told the wardrobe department, ‘I’m sorry, I really can’t wear this’.”
As for intimate scenes, Ezzaty says she would discuss with Beto and find out what each other’s boundaries are.
Beto adds: “Whatever we did on the show is necessary for the character. It is not something we do to attract attention or for cheap publicity. But still it is done within our boundaries. There’s no kissing, for example.”
Nabila Huda, who plays crime journalist Shameen, says doing her own stunts in her first actionpacked project was a memorable experience.
“We had a motorcycle that someone sponsored for the show. On the first day of shooting, although I actually can ride a motorcycle, I was very nervous because it was really expensive and I was trying to make sure I didn’t scratch it,” she recalls the experience fondly.
“And usually, if it’s your first time, you’ll ride on flat ground first to get used to it. For this scene, I had to ride the motorcycle up a hill and the ground was sandy and there were pebbles.
“So, it was really hard to balance. The first time I went up the hill, I couldn’t brake in time. The second time, the motorcycle fell.”
Beto, who got started in showbiz as a stuntman, also found the action scenes challenging but rewarding.
“I haven’t maintained my stamina the way I used to. There were three to four fighting scenes in a day, which was tiring. But I’m not complaining. I feel happy and honoured to be a part of this project.”
Asked if the creative freedom seen on this show should be adapted to mainstream TV shows and films across the board (and not just online platforms), Beto responds: “Online platforms are a good thing. It gives us more room and freedom. But audiences should be able to have a choice.
“For example, if you want to watch something where sensitivities are always kept in check, watch TV. If you want something that’s more open, go online.”
KL Gangster Underworld is available on iflix.