Singapore actor Nurul Aini reflects on the highs (and lows) of her 20-year showbiz career

Her TikToks of trolling scammers by serenading or berating them have gone viral prior to now few months – one has even reached over a million views. In these movies, native actor and TV presenter Nurul Aini reveals off her fluent Mandarin abilities as she performs together with the scammers, earlier than throwing them off together with her cheeky sense of humour. 

Whereas these movies have attracted hundreds of viewers, Nurul shouldn’t be new to being within the limelight. She is a well-known face on native tv, having acted in a lot of dramas, together with her most recognisable function as Durrani – a go-getting and impressive profession girl – on Channel 5’s Lion Mums, about three Singapore moms who try to present their kids one of the best in life.

With years of expertise underneath her belt, the nice and cozy and affable 40-year-old celebrates her twentieth yr in present enterprise this yr. “I realised simply earlier than this interview that it’s my twentieth anniversary. So this [Her World] cowl – my first one – means loads to me,” she says.

For Nurul, it’s greater than only a celebration of her profession achievements. It’s a step in direction of extra illustration for individuals of color within the native leisure trade. The Singapore-born actress – who’s of Malay, Peranakan, Pakistani and Dutch descent, and speaks English, Mandarin and Malay – provides that she is glad to see extra of minority races on TV at this time, together with lengthy kind dramas on Channel 5 that function extra Malay and Indian households.

“I’m very pleased with how issues are progressing proper now relating to the media and the TV trade. I can see my fellow actors progressing to different channels after being on one channel for a few years. There’s nonetheless room for enchancment, however I can see the progress, and I hope we are able to stick with it,” she says.

When Nurul landed a number one function in Lion Mums in 2017, it opened a possibility for her to transition from being a star on Suria, which caters to the Malay-speaking viewers, to appearing in one in every of Singapore’s extra mainstream TV channels. She has additionally been invited to behave in a Channel 8 Mandarin drama The Heartland Hero, the place she had a task as a physician.

Nurul’s latest function is a detective on Third Rail, a 12-episode motion thriller that revolves across the hijacking of an MRT prepare, which not too long ago premiered in October. On why she took on such a unique function from her earlier reveals, which had been principally household dramas, Nurul excitedly shares that it’s her first time starring as a no-nonsense tenacious detective, and he or she relishes the problem ofnplaying a extra complicated character.

“My character, Jana, speaks with out pauses and is expressionless, so I needed to memorise chunks of strains, and ship my dialogue whereas sustaining a cool manner.”

Selecting kindness

Double-breasted wool blazer with gold Sizzling & Chilly faucet-shaped buttons, and wool flared trousers, Moschino. Matelasse nappa leather-based top-handle bag, Miu Miu

Though she is not any stranger to enjoying numerous roles on TV, Nurul takes off her actor’s hat relating to being a content material creator. Nurul’s social media posts usually present her interacting together with her kids – eldest son Shan Ehan, 12, and two daughters Shaista Eman, 10, and Shania Eva, 3 – or simply going about her day.

She additionally shows her goofy facet on Tiktok with movies of herself enjoying pranks on her husband, actual property agent Sofian Roslan, and dancing together with her household. Nonetheless, whereas the content material endears Nurul to an viewers of 182,000 on Instagram and 38,500 on Tiktok, opening up about her life on these platforms additionally means coping with on-line brickbats. Regardless of being within the public eye for many of her profession, Nurul has struggled with the psychological and emotional toll of the criticism, a few of which had been even directed at her kids.

She admits: “I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I don’t get affected by the destructive feedback.” Nurul recollects an incident in 2015 when she received the Most In style Feminine Persona award for the third time consecutively at Pesta Perdana, an awards ceremony that celebrates one of the best in Singapore’s Malay media. She bought “bashed actually badly” on-line as individuals expressed their unhappiness about her win, saying that “others ought to have been given an opportunity”, though the outcomes had been based mostly on the votes of followers.

“I used to be completely happy for about two to a few hours the night time I received, however once I noticed the feedback coming in, they bought so unhealthy that I cried myself to sleep that night time,” she says.

Over time, Nurul has realised that there’ll generally be unkind feedback about her so long as she is within the limelight, and has slowly learnt to let the negativity go. It helps that Sofian has been her largest and fixed supply of help.

“He’s very real looking and tells me the laborious fact – that I’ve to simply accept that individuals will hold speaking, and there may be nothing I can do about it,” she says.

To others who’ve needed to take care of on-line bullying, her recommendation is to be the larger particular person.

“I do know it’s tough. While you learn one thing [negative] about your self, you’d wish to react instantly. Don’t do it! More often than not, they simply desire a response from you, so don’t give it to them.

“In addition to, I’ve three youngsters! I don’t have time to interact,” she says with fun.

Now, Nurul focuses on the positives – and has even tapped on her social media presence to do good for others. Throughout the circuit breaker in 2020, she did an Instagram Reside video the place she and her husband interviewed a Covid-19 affected person – a mom of a one-year-old child – within the hospital about her expertise. It reached round 10,000 viewers, and the overwhelming response prompted her to do a weekly collection the place they interviewed different sufferers, in addition to frontline employees.

Her want to assist these affected by the pandemic even transcended borders. In 2021, Nurul spoke in regards to the plight of underserved Malaysians combating their livelihoods. Her submit spurred a Singaporean follower based mostly in Malaysia, Dr Zarina Gurrahman, who had been offering free meals for the in-need and homeless, to succeed in out to Nurul about sharing their plight on her platform.

Simply by posting in regards to the state of affairs on her Instagram tales, Nurul was in a position to increase $35,000 in two days.

“Don’t underestimate the facility of social media, and what it could possibly do for you and others. Use it proper and unfold positivity!” she declares.

Overcoming mum guilt

Fake fur coat, MCM. Enamelled metallic earrings, Miu Miu. Acetate sun shades, Prada

Bustier midi size costume, & Different Tales. Sheer ruffled gloves, Luulaa at Luulaa.co. Tiffany Knot double row rose gold necklace with diamonds, and Tiffany Knot yellow gold ring with diamonds, Tiffany & Co.

This mum is obvious that her kids stay her high precedence. On a typical day, she wakes up early to drive her youngsters to high school.

“To me, spending time isn’t just taking them out for makan (meals) and flicks. Sending them to high school within the automotive may be very treasured,” she says. “It’s the time for us to attach by way of dialog.”

Difficulties come up when she is filming, which may generally last as long as 12 hours a day. Which means her kids are sometimes asleep when she will get house. Fortunately, her helper and her husband are hands-on with the youngsters as properly. Off work, Nurul all the time appears ahead to spending high quality time together with her kids. This contains guaranteeing that they’re on high of their homework.

“Each off day I get from filming is tremendous treasured to me,” she shares. “I even neglect my husband, as a result of my precedence is with the youngsters!”

However there are additionally occasions when all of it turns into a bit a lot. When the youngsters had been having their exams in September, Nurul was additionally juggling quite a few work assignments. To high it off, her mom fell sick. “I barely had time to breathe. Each time I sat down, somebody would name me,” she says.

Finally, she ended up crying alone in her room. Assist arrived within the type of her husband, who took the kids off her arms for some time, which gave her a while to gather herself. Regardless of the supportive atmosphere at house, Nurul reveals that mum guilt is all the time on her thoughts.

She hopes that, in time, society will grow to be kinder in direction of moms, particularly those that are working. “As moms, we’re anticipated to do the whole lot – family chores, increase sensible kids, be a very good spouse and carry out properly in our work. On the finish of the day, we’re only one particular person.”

Nurul additionally has this to say to different working mums: “We don’t hear this sufficient – however please know that you’re doing good! No matter it’s, don’t let what different individuals say have an effect on you an excessive amount of. Cancel no matter noise is round you. As moms, we all know greatest what’s good for our children.”

Cotton shirt with unfinished hem, wool bermudas, wool socks, calfskin loafers, and enamel drop earrings, Miu Miu. Tiffany T rose gold necklace with mother-of- pearl and diamonds, and various Knot rings, Tiffany & Co.

PHOTOGRAPHY Wee Khim
STYLING Lena Kamarudin, assisted by Joanzine Lee
ART DIRECTION Ray Ticsay
HAIR & MAKEUP Hongling, utilizing YSL Magnificence and Kevin Murphy