Some people stumble into their calling; others grow into it slowly, almost unwittingly, until one day the path becomes clear. For actor Aniq Durar, the journey from introverted child to rising screen talent was neither linear nor predictable, but he soon realised it was all meant to be.
Aniq’s childhood in a bustling family of seven shaped much of who he is today. “I was an introvert… most of the time I would be playing in the forest alone, pretending I was Legolas,” he said, laughing at the memory. In a bustling household of seven siblings, Aniq learned early that his place wasn’t necessarily as the loudest or the most athletic. “My older brother and sisters are quite the overachievers… so I was like, okay, they’re good in sports and academics, I’ll just be the whimsical one.” He gravitated towards his sisters, growing up in what he describes as a matriarchal household filled with media and stories that leaned feminine. Quietly, performing slipped into his life through school activities and one-off musicals—moments he enjoyed but never saw as a possible career.
His first professional chapter had nothing to do with acting. Having studied economics and ancient history—with a focus on Egyptian and Greek history, and specifically societal changes over time, gender roles, and myths—Durar mentions, “I do really love ancient history.” After graduating, Aniq worked in administration and communications at a museum in Kuching, Sarawak. “I really enjoyed working with historians and researchers… I would have stayed in the museum world,” he admitted. But something didn’t feel complete. The missing piece revealed itself when he signed up for a festival in Kuching, curating both an exhibition and a performance. In a contemporary Chinese opera he staged with his friend Jong Bun How, he finally felt alive, and knew then that performing was what he was meant to do.
Entering the industry at 27—when many actors start in their teens—gave Aniq both perspective and grit. “You’re on your own path… because I entered late, I matured more,” he said. Discipline matters when your days run from 9 a.m. to past midnight, the hours punctuated by quick costume changes, last-minute line rehearsals, and copious amounts of coffee. “Malay dramas sometimes shoot like 20–25 scenes a day. It’s very, very fast-paced, so you have to learn how not to be so rigid.” The physical demand of summoning deep emotion repeatedly, he said, can be exhausting. But he’s learned to navigate the intensity, even if it means stepping into the bathroom before an audition to steady himself—something he still laughs about. “During my first audition, I actually threw up in the toilet before.”
Despite the challenges, his devotion to the craft is absolute. “There will be ups and downs…but when the scene goes well, and the director says, that was good—it just makes it all worth it.” He dreams of acting for as long as his body allows: “I’m going to act till I die—that’s my dream.”
Behind him stands a family whose support is unwavering. Before he moved to Kuala Lumpur, he asked his mother’s permission to pursue acting. Her reply—whatever makes you happy, makes me happy—still grounds him. When his first film, Pagari Bulan, was released, she proudly marched around a mall with a printed poster, announcing, “This is my son!” It’s a story Aniq shared with equal affection and embarrassment.
Off-screen, the public often mistakes his quiet demeanour for stoicism, but he insists, “I’m just a silly guy, you know!” He’s a full-on gamer in his downtime, a hobby that surprises many.
This year marks a significant moment: several of his projects—already filmed—will finally reach audiences. Among them are Nyonya Ronggeng by Raja Mukhriz, a handful of dramas, and an eclectic set of roles ranging from a 1950s gangster, amputee diver to introverted artist. Some characters stretch him; others hit close to home, which he finds even harder to play. To detach from roles, he relies on a ritual learned in theatre—removing makeup slowly in front of a mirror before stepping back into himself. It has taken him years to reach this point, but Aniq is approaching his moment. He’s just getting started.
Photography: Sarah Hobbs
Styling & Creative Direction: Joseph Cheng
Art Direction: Nadia Aswardy
Hair: VV Chan, Zac Lee, Philex Chin, Cody Chua
Makeup: Eranthe Loo, Crystal Fong (Plika Makeup)
Styling Assistants: Sarah Chong, Lorraine Chai, Maryssa Helmi
Photography Assistants: Ayiesha Almas, Brandan Simon
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