DESPITE being known for his role as Ah Chai in the 2016 film Ola Bola and its subsequent 2018 stage musical, Lim Jian Wen did not start out wanting to be an actor. The 27-year-old worked as a waiter at a Chinese restaurant from the age of 12, just to save up some money to buy football boots. But he was lucky. His friends gave him a pair of boots.
“Since young, my parents instilled (in me) that if I want anything, I have to get it myself,” said Lim during a phone interview.
In Ola Bola, his character Ah Chai, a footballer, appreciates a pair of boots he owns. “It is quite similar to my life [story]. I appreciate all the boots I have. If I am not mistaken, I only paid for three boots (on my own). The rest were given by friends as a gift,” Lim explained.
Love of acting
Speaking about acting, it was by chance that Lim landed his breakout role. He and his friends went to the Ola Bola movie audition with the thought that they would be able to become extras during football scenes. Instead he bagged the role of Ah Chai.
“Who knew that it was actually an audition,” said Lim.
Being in front of the camera for the first time can be nerve-wracking for some, but for Lim, it was the opposite.
“It was quite funny as I did not know where the camera was placed. I am not joking. Throughout the film shoot, I didn’t realise where all the cameras were.
“After the movie was released and I had to do interviews in front of the camera, I became nervous and blanked out most of the time,” added Lim.
Initially, he was unsure about his acting profession. “I was always unsure about myself, whether I should continue acting (or not) until one day I couldn’t perform for the very first show of the second season of Ola Bola the Musical, due to food poisoning. I was super upset and at that moment, I finally realised that I really love performing.”
Now, his love for acting has deepened. “I want to learn more about life. Role-playing a person’s character helps one understand more about another’s life. I wish to bring more fun and positive energy to people around me – and if possible, all around the world – through performing.”
Lim, who has also acted in drama series, advertisements, short films and stage performances, wants to get more meaty roles. “I wish to try for bad guy or ‘funny’ bad guy roles like Hong Kong actor Stephen Chow,” he added.
The movie that changed his life
Going back to Ola Bola, Lim agrees that the character of Ah Chai suited his personality.
“I am the kind of person who does not think of becoming ‘the best’ or ‘the top’ of something, but I always give my all when given a task. Just like Ah Chai, who is famously known for his quote “Nak jadi skru yang bermakna” (wanting to be a useful component), the skill all of us have is to work hard.”
Reminiscing about the movie, Lim spoke about the memorable scene when Ah Chai is called by the coach to replace another character, Abu, on the pitch.
“The acting was so real. My heart beat so fast until I clumsily took off my tracksuit and entered the field.”
He feels that playing at Stadium Merdeka and wearing the Harimau Malaya jersey is the dream of every Malaysian footballer. In fact, Lim started playing football from the time he was about eight or nine years old, and trained under a coach from the age of 14.
“My dream was to become a footballer and represent Malaysia,” he said. He made a promise to himself that if he was not selected to play football for either the national or state team by the age of 21, he would give up. When his football team lost at the IPT level, he decided to forget about his dream.
Ironically, his childhood dream eventually came true thanks to his role in Ola Bola.
The role changed his life forever. As he explained: “I find that my words are influential, and I get the chance to motivate people, especially children. Personally, I feel motivated to contribute more to Malaysia.”
Movement Control Order
In early March, Lim recorded a rap parody of the song #HaaTepok, changing the lyrics to remind people to wash their hands to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
He said: “I hope the video (released on his Facebook profile) will create awareness among people about the virus and everyone will work together to stay at home to break the virus chain.”
During the MCO, Lim spends his time practising the Malay ballad Cinta Luar Biasa on his guitar, helping with chores at home and bonding with family members over dinner.
Asked to send a message to the public, he said: “Sincerely thanks to all the frontliners and everyone who is doing their best to stay at home and keep themselves safe during the MCO. Frontliners are heroes, and every one of you who follows the rule of the MCO are also heroes.
“By the end of the MCO, we will be able to meet each other happily. Let’s work together for it.”
