Emir Mahira again challenged his acting ability by playing the role of Furqon, a young ustaz in the film project Kupilih Jalur Langit.
Playing a role with Zee Asadel, Emir admitted that this character is very different from his original personality which is exploratory and noisy.
"If I play Furqon. Furqon is a young ustaz who looks like a dream husband, good with parents, but it turns out that behind it he has a pretty big past," said Emir Mahira when met in Kuningan, South Jakarta, Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
To delve into the role, Emir did not play around in doing research. He was even accompanied directly by a ustaz to learn the movements and how to speak a great religious leader in the pesantren environment.
"I was directly introduced to a cleric named Ustaz Urwat. We had workshops several times, learned about letters, and learned about the movements of the ustaz who grew up in the pesantren. Where is his eye view, what is the path," explained Emir.
One of the hardest challenges for the Emir was the habit of Furqon's character who had to keep his gaze (ghadhul bashar). This was carried over into his daily life even after the filming process was completed.
"That's the hardest thing. Because this ustaz has a tendency to find it difficult to look at women's eyes (lowering his gaze). Modeling the Prophet where his movements are somewhat down but with the goal of a clear path. That's a challenge for me," he added.
On the other hand, Zee Asadel plays the role of Amira, a naive girl who is very enthusiastic about welcoming a wedding. In this film, Zee looks different by wearing a hijab and a very minimalist makeup.
"Amira's character is more like a young person who just got married, she is very excited about her marriage. Maybe because she sees her parents so close and warm, so Amira wants to have a wedding like her parents," said Zee Asadel.
Zee explained that although Amira was told to be big in the pesantren, she did not have trouble adapting because she had a background in Islamic schools.
"If I just wear a hijab, and the makeup is more natural because Amira is a home child," he said.
Interestingly, when he was on the set, Emir had a special ritual to stay consistent in the character of the ustaz. He used prayer as an opener before the camera started recording his actions.
"If I'm Furqon, before I start taking I usually read Ta'awudz and Basmalah to get into the character of the ustaz. But if I'm on a break, I choose to let go of the character so that it's balanced," concluded Emir Mahira.
MD Pictures and Manara Studio are once again enlivening the local film industry by releasing the Official Poster of their latest religious drama film, "I Choose the Path of Heaven".
Adapted from the viral true story by Elizasifaa (creator of Ipar Adalah Maut), this film highlights the fragile portrait of a young marriage built on the foundation of a past that has not ended.
Manoj Punjabi, CEO & Founder MD Pictures, called this story a reflection for the younger generation.
"When I first heard the real story from Elizasifaa, I immediately thought that this was a story that many people in Indonesia should hear," he said.
"Especially for young people who want to step into the marriage stage; this film gives an in-depth perspective on commitment and honesty," he concluded.
The film directed by Archie Hekagery is scheduled to hit the hearts of audiences in all Indonesian cinemas starting April 23, 2026.
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