Actor Meerqeen on conquering challenges and his rise to fame

The path to success wasn’t without its challenges. Meerqeen’s early auditions for television commercials were met with numerous rejections. He reflects, “At that time, I did not know about acting, just singing and performing in front of people. So it was hard to express my feelings through acting, especially when I started to go for castings. In fact, during my four years of college, I would go for about 10 castings each year. I only managed to score two commercials from the 40-plus castings I’ve been to.” 

However, his dedication eventually paid off when he participated in Hero Remaja, a local youth icon competition, and secured third place, establishing himself as an emerging talent.

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But transitioning into the industry proved daunting, as Meerqeen found himself competing against seasoned actors who had been in the field for decades. Recalling those early days, he admits, “The challenge is competing with people with whom you have no business competing with. When I was in Hero Remaja, my competition was friends about the same age as me and quite new to acting. But when you enter the industry, you’re competing with seniors with decades of experience like Fattah Amin or Syafiq Kyle, who were peaking at that time.”

Undeterred by the steep competition, Meerqeen’s unwavering determination and support from his family propelled him forward. He credits his strength and resilience to their unwavering support, sharing, “They encouraged me to keep on trying and keep going. I wanted to prove to my dad that I could make it in the industry because he was the only one who was against me joining the acting industry at the beginning.” 

Overcoming initial scepticism from his father, Meerqeen’s commitment and eventual success changed his perception. “[My dad] didn’t know that the Malaysian acting industry had a lot of potential. He didn’t really believe in this industry and felt that young actors in Malaysia had a time limit. But now he’s my biggest fan, especially after scoring my big break as the lead for Angkara Cinta after Hero Remaja. He even messaged me saying he’s proud of me and only wishes the best for me.”

Reflecting on his journey, Meerqeen opens up about a pivotal moment when he had to make a difficult choice between pursuing an acting role or focusing on his studies. At the age of 17, he was offered a role as a second lead on a TV show for Astro but decided to prioritise his studies instead as he was taking SPM that year. While it felt like a lost opportunity at the time, Meerqeen stands by his decision, recognising the unforeseen benefits it brought him. “I was so down, rejecting something I wanted. I even cried to my mom. But it was also SPM and studies are important. I used to regret it but now I don’t. There are always second chances in life and if I hadn’t made that decision, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now, which I am very grateful for.” 

As his career continues to flourish, Meerqeen nurtures ambitions beyond Malaysia’s borders, with offers from international markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and even as far as Hollywood. However, he remains grounded and focused on making calculated decisions that prioritise the growth and development of Malaysia’s acting industry while gradually expanding his horizons.

“I want to focus on what I must do for our industry first. I want to set a standard for the next generation of actors… I want people to realise there are gems and diamonds that can be developed in Malaysia,” shares Meerqeen. He has an upcoming project, an action series, where he will be starring alongside what he describes as Malaysia’s most prominent female martial artist. 

“There’s much more to come. But for now, I’ll be focusing completely on acting. This month, I'll be shooting an action series with the hottest Malaysian fighter actress. All I can say is that she’s like a real-life Catwoman regarding her moves.

“Despite the international offers, I don’t want to make a rash decision and jump the gun. If you make drastic moves, you can rise very fast but also fall down quickly. Because I think back then, there were a lot of detractors, criticising that one cannot go far by just being an actor in Malaysia. No, they’re all wrong. I’m proof that you can go far. And there’s more to go,” he enthuses. 

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With his infectious smile and cheerful disposition, Meerqeen embraces the pressures and responsibilities that come with his influential status. “Of course it was scary at first. To suddenly see so many people coming into my life and to have so many opportunities being presented, it pressures me. Back then, whatever I did, I felt like I had to explain myself. ‘Why did I like this tweet?’ ‘Why did I say this?’ But now I just do my own thing,” Meerqeen says, recognising the value in both praise and criticism but he stays open to constructive feedback. 

“Whatever you do, people will criticise. At the end of the day, we’re all human, and I’m just an actor. So how do I balance [it all]? To be honest, I just do my own thing. I try not to be bothered by the negativity because, as you know, I’m a cheerful person. I like to smile, I like to laugh... But of course, you can’t ignore it completely. I would still read what my detractors say because these are all points of view at the end of the day. They’re what the audience sees in me and what I see in myself. So I take whatever positive points I can extract from these detractors. I’m grateful that some might criticise me and point out any shortcomings that I can work on.”

As his star continues to rise, Meerqeen’s sights are set on challenging himself and leaving a lasting impact on the industry. Whether it’s through his diverse roles, delivering powerful messages, or captivating audiences on the big screen, this talented actor is ready to prove that he’s not just a handsome face but a shining gem in the Malaysian entertainment industry.

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