Exclusive, Pangeran Lantang Is Able To Be Independent Thanks To Acting

Pangeran Lantang (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

JAKARTA - Pangeran Lantang at first glance sounds foreign to Indonesian audiences, but when you see his face you might start to feel familiar. In 2021 he is one of the actors in the series Antares.

This year, he acted in a feature film entitled Nona Manis Sayange. This romantic film that combines culture tells the story of Akram (Pangeran Lantang) who meets his little friend Sika (Haico van der Heken). The two began to like each other, but Sika's father forbade his daughter to continue the relationship and matched Sika with another man.

“Akram's character is very innocent. Because of his innocence, he has a friend and he is kind, sincere, willing to help all kinds of people. Akram has an ugly side which I think is quite disturbing because he thinks too much about other people than himself and Akram is also a native Labuan Bajo resident," said Pangeran Lantang to VOI in an interview.

Initially, Pangeran admitted that he accepted the film Nona Manis Sayange because he imagined Labuan Bajo. Over time, he felt that this film presented something new and different for him, from character development to the shooting process.

"Sometimes I feel like I see famous people are no longer themselves, but when I met Haico, she could cooperate, I enjoyed working with her because we supported each other. Because we both don't speak Labuan Bajo language. Haico's the best!” said Pangeran.

Pangeran Lantang (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

This is his seventh film in his career, but he loudly claims that Nona Manis Sayange is a very meaningful project for his career. He still remembers the shooting process a year ago which he took with 30 crew members and cast members.

"If it weren't because of God, I wouldn't be able to feel the crew and cast here helping me in any way. We also have a hard time being happy together, I'm not just talking. This is a small crew, perhaps because it is close and on certain days we will definitely meet and stay on the same ship as the crew," said Pangeran Lantang.

“Really that close, imagine living in a small town surviving together. Can't eat together. There was a moment when we climbed 800 steps, the players also brought them and we were late arriving and we were hungry together and there was no water," he said.

Since he first spoke, the man whose real name is Denzel Jordan Pangeran felt like he had truly become an actor during the past 2 years. Even though he has been acting since childhood, why?

"If you say that from childhood, it's true that from childhood, it was more because my mother told me to do it, because my mother worked behind the scenes. When I was at school, my mother always said, 'just try filming'. Never even casted!" Pangeran told the story enthusiastically.

"At that time, my mother had a project too, but I actually didn't like it and I only became passionate about it in 2021, which was MD Entertainment's first Antares project," he continued. He even remembers starting acting in 2010 through an FTV with Astrid Tiar.

Pangeran Lantang (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

Before acting, Pangeran Lantang was active in playing football. However, this was not continued because the man who was born on January 20 experienced a number of problems. He also does not deny that he grew up as a naughty child.

"Why didn't I become a football player because I was injured and I had disciplinary problems, but in the end that's not the way to go. Not an escape, but you could say that from childhood I liked to lie to people until I was in junior high school. I continued to like acting, pretended to be sick, but didn't know that it would be an actor," he said.

"I like playing football, playing music, but what I don't like is studying in class, so every time there is a lesson I have to withdraw and leave the class and I skipped classes from 5 elementary schools until high school and I was expelled from school. I like looking for lessons outside of school because I don't like theory. Finally, I worked abroad in the United States and when I returned, my mental and physical way of thinking changed instantly," he continued.

In the midst of his anxiety, Pangeran Lantang prayed that he could choose between playing music, playing football, or acting. He also admitted that he didn't have much hope for his acting career. On the other hand, he realized that he was too late to have a career as a football player.

"Actually, I didn't pray for filming and there I felt like God didn't answer. A week later, what started, that's what I heard. Suddenly I got a call from the MD for Antares casting, but I didn't make it, but a few days later I got a call because I was replacing someone's character. That's when I realized the process there," said Pangeran.

Acting Makes Him Independent

Pangeran Lantang (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

In the Antares series, Pangeran Lantang plays Ardhan Alcander, a member of the Calderoz motorcycle gang. Pangeran starred with Angga Yunanda, Beby Tsabina, Irzan Faiq, Maudy Effrosina, Fatih Unru, and others. The series that aired in 2021 is one of the most talked about throughout its broadcast.

Through this series, Pangeran Lantang said he finally earned his own income. This is what makes him want to become independent because he feels that time is passing quickly. After 2 years as an actor, he also revealed that he still experiences rejection when casting.

“I'm grateful and lucky that I never felt that from the start of acting, maybe I was more shocked. At the gas station, someone greet me 'Mr. Pangeran?' I feel like I have a new friend," he said.

"I never choose role portions because all roles are important, 1 scene 2 scenes 100 scenes 300 scenes are all important. If asked, I want to try everything while I can. Maybe I prefer the story because I also don't want to disappoint the production house when I don't like the story. Because there are stories that I don't like but other actors like," explained Pangeran.

Pangeran Lantang (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

When asked about his dream role, the 22-year-old actor was quick to want to play an antagonist. He always gets protagonist or comedy roles but never touches the realm of antagonist.

"So far, people have said that I have a scary face, but that's not an antagonist. I was once a psychopath in the film Cherish & Ruelle with Beby Tsabina, but psychopaths are not antagonists, because this is about mental and psychological damage," continued Pangeran.

Pangeran Lantang has gone through various experiences. Admitting to being stubborn since childhood, he began to reflect on himself after returning from the United States. Growing up with a father who was a pastor made him start to struggle a lot about his future.

Pangeran Lantang (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

"Back when I was at school I was really stubborn and disappointed my parents too much, how long will it be like this? My surroundings ask me a lot about what I want to be when I grow up. Many people say, 'Your father is a pastor, but how come his son is like you?' Yes, why? We're both human. I am grateful and lucky to have a father who has a cool mindset. Not the type to forbid, restrain, and strict to me. I found my own way working in the world of film and that is also their prayer," he said.

In these two years, Pangeran Lantang hopes not to be extravagant. He wants everyone to accept his acting as long as he learns the process.

“From here I learned, we can't be satisfied with every project we undertake. I can play all possible roles now, but in the future I can explore more roles," concluded Pangeran Lantang.