#SHOWBIZ: Family first for 'man of action' Theebaan

IF Malaysians are not yet aware of talented tough-guy actor Theebaan Govindasamy, or Theebaan G, they might have been away from the cinemas for far too long.

The KL boy has been very much a part of Malaysian cinema ever since he shot to fame in Adrian Teh's navy blockbuster 'Paskal' in 2018.

To date, Theebaan has appeared in about 10 movies and four television series, always flexing his muscles to either fight baddies or menace upright lawmen as a villain.

In fact, his latest movie 'Chelot' sees him play a ruthless thug with lots of swagger, mercilessly pumping bullets into the boys in blue in a dramatic, John Woo-style gunfight in the heart of Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

That Teh blockbuster also sees Theebaan's thuggish character, Desmond, suffer a most horrifying death at the hands of main baddie Bakri (Shaheizy Sam), who literally "cracked his coconut".

"Oooh! That hurt real bad!" Theebaan joked in a recent interview with Groove.

"But I love how Adrian and Sam executed that scene. They're fantastic, as director and main actor. I'd love to join them for many more action movies in future."

VILLAINOUS CHOICE

Does Theebaan prefer to play an action hero or action villain?

"Action villain of course!" he said. "People remember great baddies, since baddies drive the movie to its logical conclusion and heighten all the adventure the hero needs to face."

If he's got a formula for portraying heroes and villains, Theebaan would go for 60 per cent villain and 40 per cent hero.

"While tough guys are my favourite, since I am a martial arts exponent, I want to slowly transition to character actors later on.

"It's always good to get out of your comfort zone and play characters you aren't too familiar with. Acting without adventure is not acting!"

The 36-year-old actor describes himself as a true blue KL boy.

A graduate in petroleum engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), he is a karate and mixed martial arts (MMA) practitioner.

Beginning when he was 5, he learned karate and later fell in love with MMA, winning the Malaysian Invasion MMA Championship in 2016.

Representing the country in the IMMAF World Championship 2017 in Bahrain, he clinched the Best Fighter title at the 2018 Asia MMA Awards.

Theebaan admitted that he did not set out to be an actor in the beginning.

"Honestly, I stumbled upon acting. It was my karate master who pulled me into it. He wanted to produce a martial arts movie, and recruited me for it."

Working on that film, 'Victory', back in 2013, Theebaan discovered a hidden passion.

"You can say I was suddenly bitten by the acting bug. I am glad I was, and to this day I've never got tired of acting.

"I've had a superb journey meeting many talented actors and directors, not to mention stuntmen."

FAMILY OF BLACK BELTS

Theebaan's love of self-defence is actually the end result of being forced by his parents to take up karate.

"I'm the third of four siblings and all of us do martial arts. I chose to do karate as my master operated not far from our house.

"Martial arts, despite being something my parents forced me to do, turned out to be my first love, and I've had no regrets learning it," explained Theebaan, who admires actors Zul Ariffin and Sylvester Stallone.

Theebaan and his siblings are indeed a family of black belts.

"If I hadn't become an actor, I would certainly have gone all out to be a national MMA champion and karate champion," he said, still determined to become an MMA champion one day.

He thanks his parents for being his biggest fans and critics.

"What makes me happy is seeing them beaming with pride each time I come out on the big or small screen.

"And they always remind me to never forget my roots. That's why as an actor, I've chosen to be a little 'low profile' promoting my films rather than my own abilities."

INTO CHARACTER

For Theebaan, the most difficult thing about being an action hero or villain is coming out of character and getting back into it.

"Physical action is not a problem. It's more about the mental action, going into your villainous character, jumping out of it once filming for the day is over, and getting back into him at work the next day," he said.

"At times, you are so into your character that you scare the people around you."

Asked about his ideal movie role, Theebaan envisions playing a complex man who struggles with daily life due to his own bad habits.

"He's a man who is his own villain, and has to pay for the consequences of his bad habits.

"Kevin Spacey did great as such a man in the Oscar-winning movie American Beauty. I loved it!"

As for future projects, he teased: "I assure all my fans and friends that there will be a big one coming up next year."

DEEPAVALI AND BEYOND

During Deepavali, Theebaan always celebrates it as a family affair.

"My siblings and I get together with our parents every Deepavali and catch up with one another. It begins with a temple visit and a small scrumptious breakfast.

"And what I always look forward to during Deepavali is my mother's fantastic murukku. I've also got a relative who does superb pineapple tarts."

Besides martial arts and acting, he manages a smartphone app company focused on fitness, and possesses a hidden culinary skill.

"My parents and siblings credit me with making 'really mean' chapatis."

Whenever he leaves the house, he carries five essentials: his business card, phone, mints or gum, and a small Malaysian flag from his karate days.

"The little flag reminds me of my duty to bring honour to family and country."