Irfan Zaini On The Making Of Terbang : “One Of The Biggest Achievements In My Life”

For Irfan Zaini, stepping into the shoes of national rally legend Karamjit Singh was more than just another acting opportunity. It was a chance to introduce a Malaysian sporting icon to a new generation while taking on one of the most challenging roles of his career.

The actor admitted that he felt incredibly proud to portray Karamjit in Terbang, particularly as an Indian actor taking on a significant role in a Malay-language film.

“First of all, I feel very proud. As an Indian actor acting in a Malay film and representing the Indian community while playing the role of Karamjit, I feel like this is one of the biggest achievements in my life,” he said.

For Irfan, the role also opened his eyes to just how remarkable Karamjit’s journey had been.

He admitted that, before taking on the role, he only knew a little about the rally champion. But as he began researching Karamjit’s life and achievements, he found himself increasingly amazed by the impact the Malaysian had made in the world of motorsports.

“A legend like Karamjit Singh deserves to be celebrated in Malaysia. Many people are not aware about this man. Even I personally knew very little about him. But after I read about him, I thought, ‘Wow, this man has achieved so much,’” he said.

That discovery became one of the biggest motivations for Irfan. He hopes Terbang will allow audiences, especially younger Malaysians, to discover the man who once put Malaysia on the international rallying map.

“I’m proud to be able to bring the character to people who don’t know him. Those who do know him are also very happy with the casting,” he said.

But bringing Karamjit to life required much more than studying his photographs and career. Irfan underwent three months of rally training to understand the physical and mental demands of driving a rally car.

What initially seemed exciting quickly proved to be a serious challenge.

“One of the toughest things was controlling the gears, pedals and handbrake while concentrating on the road. It requires so much multitasking,” he explained.

The training also gave Irfan a newfound respect for professional rally drivers. He had to learn how to handle the car while portraying Karamjit’s confidence behind the wheel, without allowing fear to show.

“I had to drive the car like Karamjit, and I couldn’t show the fear. The training really helped me,” he said.

Irfan also had the opportunity to speak with Karamjit himself, using their conversations alongside his own research to better understand the man behind the legend. For the actor, the responsibility was immense.

He knew he was not simply playing a fictional character but portraying a real Malaysian who had achieved something extraordinary.

That pressure became particularly emotional during the filming of the climax. Irfan recalled that convincing director Chiu Keng Guan about his performance was not easy. But after completing the scene, the director walked towards him, hugged him and gave him the reassurance he had been waiting for.

“That moment left me speechless,” Irfan recalled.

Terbang also marks another milestone for Irfan as his first Malay film as an actor. He said he particularly enjoyed working alongside Zizan Razak, whom he had grown up watching, describing their combination on screen as an interesting one.

“I grew up watching Zizan and this is my first Malay film as an actor. Working with him was enjoyable. Our combination was interesting,” he said.

For Irfan, however, the biggest takeaway from Terbang goes beyond acting. The experience of playing Karamjit Singh has given him a deeper appreciation of rallying and, more importantly, of a Malaysian whose achievements deserve to be remembered.

With Terbang, Irfan hopes audiences will not only see a story about motorsports, but also discover the determination, sacrifice and journey behind one of Malaysia’s most celebrated rally champions.

Inspired by the life journey of Karamjit Singh, Terbang is directed by Chiu Keng Guan and also stars Jack Tan, Zizan Razak, Nam Ron, Diana Danielle and Qasrina Karim

Premiering in cinemas nationwide on 17 September 2026, TERBANG will also be available in 4DX format, offering audiences a fully immersive cinematic experience through motion seats and environmental effects such as wind, water, and scents.