Cover For Nicholas Saputra, staying relevant has never meant staying visible. It has always been about choosing the projects—and the life—that feel true to him (Photo by: Vicky Tanzil)
For Nicholas Saputra, staying relevant has never meant staying visible. It has always been about choosing the projects—and the life—that feel true to him (Photo by: Vicky Tanzil)
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For most actors, relevance demands constant visibility. Nicholas Saputra has spent the past quarter century proving otherwise. He has been remarkably selective about where and why he chooses to be seen
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to speak with Nicholas Saputra on several occasions, whether for the release of a new film or conversation about his personal pursuits, from travel to sustainability. Each encounter has revealed something new, even if he insists he has not been particularly prolific on screen. Over a career spanning 25 years since his debut as Rangga in “Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?”, Nicholas Saputra has quietly evolved into an actor of remarkable range and maturity.
Rangga may remain the role mostly associated with him, and perhaps it always will. Yet it exists alongside a body of work that has shaped Indonesian cinema in its own right: Soe Hok Gie in “Gie”, Joni in “Janji Joni”, River in “The Architecture of Love”, and, more recently, his performances in Garin Nugroho's musical “Siapa Dia” and Mouly Surya's “Tukar Takdir”, both were released in 2025.
Despite the passing years and the many projects that have filled them, the person I've encountered in our conversations over nearly 15 years has remained remarkably consistent. At least from my perspective, Nicholas Saputra has never been one for small talk or for filling silence simply to make conversation. His responses come only after careful thought—calm, measured, and deliberate. To some, that restraint can come across as distant. For me, it feels more like someone who has long understood the importance of keeping certain parts of himself beyond public consumption.
In an industry that often rewards constant visibility, Nico, as he is affectionately known, has spent the past 25 years proving that relevance can be built differently which is through thoughtful choices, consistency, and work that continues to speak long after the credits roll.
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Presence Over Visibility
Even before conversations around digital detox, oversharing, and social media fatigue entered the mainstream, Nico had already chosen a different way of living. While many public figures felt the pressure to stay constantly visible, he never seemed compelled to place himself at the centre of attention.
"People used to find it difficult to understand why I didn't even want to show my face on social media," he recalled with a laugh. "Everyone keeps asking, 'Why? Everyone is doing it. Just show yourself.'"
During our conversation, I joked that perhaps the boundaries he had instinctively drawn years ago had become unexpectedly relevant today. What once seemed unusual now feels increasingly familiar, especially among younger generations who are becoming more intentional about what they share online—and what they choose to keep to themselves.
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People used to find it difficult to understand why I didn't even want to show my face on social media
Nico smiled at the irony. He pointed to Gen Z users who post only a handful of carefully chosen photos—or sometimes none at all. What struck me was that Nico never frames this as a foresight. He is not interested in claiming he is ahead of his time. The decision simply feels right for him. "I think it was the best decision for me," he said.
Not because he rejects social media outright—he still uses it to support the films, brands, and projects he believes in—but because he has never wanted to feel obligated to constantly perform, explain himself, or remain visible simply for the sake of visibility. Perhaps that has always been one of his defining qualities. He has never appeared particularly interested in meeting every expectation placed upon him, only in understanding himself well enough to know which ones deserve his attention.
It is the same perspective he now shares with the young cast of “Rangga & Cinta”, where he serves as a producer. "I didn't have a mentor when I started," he recalled. "Learning how to deal with fame meant being thrown into it and figuring things out on my own."
He believes today's young actors face an even greater challenge. Audiences already carry their own memories and expectations, and comparisons are almost inevitable. "I simply remind them to be prepared for that," he said. “At the end of the day, the only thing we can truly control is how we choose to respond.”
I asked him whether he had ever searched his own name online, curious to know how the public perceived him. His answer came without hesitation.
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At the end of the day, the only thing we can truly control is how we choose to respond.
"Don't search yourself. That's the worst thing you can do," he said firmly. "People can say whatever they want in a matter of seconds, and then you're the one thinking about it for days. That's not worth it. You have control, make sure you use it." His words reflect the philosophy that has quietly shaped the way Nico has lived in public for the past 25 years: not by trying to control what others think, but by being intentional about what deserves his attention.
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Don't search yourself. That's the worst thing you can do.
Moving Like Water
The entertainment industry has long romanticised reinvention. Every few years, actors are expected to return with a new image, strategy, or a carefully planned career pivot. Nico has never approached his work that way. "I like things to move slowly," he reflected. "It feels more thoughtful, more organic. I don't like planning big pivots." It is a surprisingly simple philosophy for someone whose career has lasted more than two decades.
When I asked whether he had a five-year plan, he almost shrugged off the idea. "I've always felt that things simply flow," he said. "Like water, and hopefully they eventually reach their destination." Rather than mapping out every stage of his career, he prefers to stay present—to focus on what deserves his attention today, what feels meaningful now, and what naturally comes next.
Listening to him, I realised Nico had never been driven by urgency. There is no sense of racing against time, nor of chasing relevance before it slips away. His career has unfolded gradually, guided less by calculated ambition than by curiosity, instinct, and a willingness to let each chapter lead to the next. Ironically, that slower rhythm may be precisely what has allowed him to endure. Twenty-five years after first stepping into the spotlight, Nico remains one of Indonesia's most respected actors because he has trusted the value of evolving at his own pace.
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People can say whatever they want in a matter of seconds, and then you're the one thinking about it for days. That's not worth it. You have control, make sure you use it
Balance Beyond Work
One word surfaced repeatedly throughout our conversation: balance. It appears when Nico talks about stepping away from social media. It returns when we discuss his work, his interests beyond film, and eventually about the environment—an issue he has supported for years. Looking into nature, he said, is a reminder that everything exists through balance. Forests, ecosystems, and even the smallest interactions depend on coexistence rather than dominance. Human life, he believes, should strive for the same equilibrium.
From there, the conversation expanded beyond environmental conservation. It becomes a reflection on the way we move through modern life. We live in an era where information travels faster than reflection. Opinions form before understanding has a chance to catch up. Algorithms quietly reinforce what we already believe, until our worlds begin to feel smaller than they really are. For Nico, the answer is not simply to log off. It is to travel with intention, reconnect with people he trusts, choose conversations over endless scrolling, and occasionally do something as ordinary as driving.
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Looking into nature is a reminder that everything exists through balance.
Driving, he told me, has become unexpectedly meditative. Without instinctively reaching for his phone, his attention returns to the road and the world unfolds beyond the windshield. Swimming offers something similar—a rare opportunity to be fully present with his own thoughts.
In an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, curated realities, and infinite feeds, he believes genuine human connection has become more valuable than ever. "Talking to people feels refreshing," he said simply.
As I left, I realised we had spent surprisingly little time talking about fame. Instead, our conversation wandered through forests, travel, social media, balance, and the quiet discipline of paying attention. Perhaps that is what has kept Nicholas relevant for all these years. Relevance, after all, is not always about keeping up. Sometimes, it comes from knowing what deserves to remain unchanged.
Credits
Photography: Vicky Tanzil
Creative Direction: Hans Hambali
Interview: Adeste Adipriyanti
Grooming: Ryan Ogilvy
Hair: Muhammad Adhar Alinsky
Set Design: KhayalKini
Outfit: Biyan, Sapto Djojokartiko
