Exclusive Claresta Taufan: From Karate To The World Of Acting, Discipline Is The Key To Success

Exclusive Claresta Taufan (Photo: Irfan Meidianto, DI: Raga/VOI)

Exploring the role that is based on a true story has always been a challenge for an actor. This is what Claresta Taufan felt when he was trusted to play the figure of Maryam, a woman whose life has been disturbed by supernatural things for almost three decades in the film Maryam: Jiwa and Bound Promises.

For Claresta, his first meeting with the original Maryam left a very deep impression. He saw an extraordinary firmness behind the story of a life that was so heavy.

"Eh, when I first met Maryam, I heard all the stories that I thought were really hard. But Maryam said it by trying it as normally as possible. Instead, I thought, 'Wow, Maryam is a very strong woman'," said Claresta Taufan at the VOI office, recently.

Claresta's admiration grew when he realized how long Maryam had to endure this tense situation. He believes not everyone is able to have mental strength like Maryam.

"Every day almost 30 years there is a disturbance, there is just a temptation, never feeling calm, but she still survives. So in my opinion, Maryam is a very strong woman, even though she is tiring mentally, physically, psychologically, but Maryam has survived until now almost 30 years. She is a strong, very strong woman," said Claresta Taufan.

Furthermore, he stressed how Maryam never gave up on finding a way out of her suffering.

"Because if this might happen to other people, it's not necessarily possible to survive so far. And Maryam also doesn't give up trying to keep trying to find a way out, trying to how to live a normal life. I think Maryam is a strong, strong, very strong woman," he explained.

Bringing a story that is so personal and sensitive that Claresta was worried about Maryam's real safety. He also asked this directly.

"Yes, yes (so I thought about the real figure of Maryam). That's why, my first question at the first meeting with Maryam, I asked, 'Is this figure okay if your story is uploaded to the film?' And indeed Maryam can't give 100% how safe Sis," said Claresta.

Maryam's answer was beyond expectation. He turned out to be more worried about the actor who would play the disruptive figure.

"But it's like, 'Honestly I don't know, Sis, but yes, God willing, you will be the one who plays you, as I play you, God willing, it's safe. I'm more concerned with who will play that figure later," he said.

In the end, Claresta and the production team have a noble goal behind the cultivation of this film. They have the same vision and mission as Maryam, namely to increase public awareness and pave the way for help.

"So why do we keep going, why do we keep going to this film because we really have that goal. We want more people to be aware of Maryam, the more people who know, the more open doors to be able to help Maryam live a more normal life and get out of trouble," he concluded.

Behind her rising career in acting, actress Claresta Taufan has a strong mental foundation, forged over the years as a karate athlete.

For him, the discipline and hard work learned from martial arts is the key in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

Claresta said that he had been in karate since a young age and felt the many benefits that shaped his character to date.

"Actually, there are a lot of benefits that I get from karate. I'm karate from the age of 8 years until now. Even though I'm not competing anymore. I last competed when I almost graduated from college," said Claresta Taufan.

More than just physical strength, karate instills very valuable mental values. One of the most important lessons is that success cannot be requested, but must be fought for.

"And mentally, in karate I learned a lot about one, discipline. And secondly, when we want something, we have to try. Let's say, maybe what did I want when I was little, what could I like, 'Mama, I want that, Papa, I want that'. I can ask. But when I want to win first place, I can't ask my parents for that. I have to practice, I have to be the best to be able to get in that position," said Claresta Taufan.

This principle is what he brings to the world of actors. For him, luck is not something that comes suddenly, but the result of careful preparation when meeting an opportunity.

"Likewise with in the actor. I have to keep practicing, I have to keep learning, talk a lot with more seniors, chat with fellow actors to keep getting more knowledge. So when offered an opportunity, I'm ready," he continued.

Karena menurut saya orang beruntung adalah ketika kesempatan itu datang, orang itu sudah mempersiapkan. Karena kalau kesempatannya datang terus, tapi kitanya tidak pernah menyiapkan ya tidak akan menjadi milik. Itu aku seperti itu, sambungnya.

Interestingly, behind his fighting mentality, Claresta admitted that he was a shy person, especially as a child. However, career demands forced him to get out of his comfort zone.

"To be honest, I was actually embarrassed when I was little, let alone like that. Maybe if it's karate, it's already on the field, one, everyone is watching but I'm competing, I don't have to, 'Say hello' to people," he said.

He also made his shame a challenge that must be conquered. Meanwhile, my first career from hosting sports in front of the camera watched by people throughout Indonesia is the term, I'm more of a challenge myself, but that's where I push myself like, You have to be able to.' Because if you don't start, if you don't want to try, when can you do it? So I have to encourage myself to get out of my comfort zone," said Claresta Taufan.

Even though he is now focused on acting, there is one thing he has missed from the times of the competition: adrenaline before the competition. According to him, the sensation is different from nervousness while filming.

"There is a lot of drainage, but it's really adrenaline when I want to compete, when I stand beside the field, it's really different. It's amazing, extraordinary. That's probably what I, that I miss, adrenaline when I want to fight it," he explained.

In the midst of the tension, the figure of his father who is also a karateka has always been a source of calm.

"There are even a few things that made me calm like that during the karate era, I had to see my father. Because the number one supporter. Because my father is karate too, right. Yes, and yes, if there is my father, 'Oh yes, I'm calm', that's it," he explained.