“I spent two months before pre-production getting into the character to become what the director had envisioned,” Irfan said. “Sun-J guided me through every detail from the way I talk and walk to the body language needed to portray Jack authentically. There’s even a flashback that explains his walk, so getting that right was crucial.”
Irfan revealed that his appearance in the film is so distinct that even his friends may not recognize him on screen. “I had to tell people, ‘Hey, that’s me!’” he laughed.
To help the cast immerse themselves in their roles, Sun-J provided curated playlists that each actor had to listen to throughout filming. “At first, I wondered if it was really necessary,” Irfan admitted. “But after some time, I realised how much it helped. It kept us emotionally connected to our characters until the final day of the shoot.”
The same approach was given to co-stars Karnan Kanapathy and Kuberan Mahadevan, ensuring that each actor stayed fully engaged in their respective roles.
Irfan, whose full name is Muhammad Irfan Mohamed Zain, said working with Sun-J was a dream come true. “I’ve always wanted to work with him. I was genuinely surprised when I got the role because people often label me as a commercial actor, while Sun-J is known for his art films,” he shared.
Describing his transformation into Jack, Irfan said, “Honestly, I couldn’t find any similarities between myself and the character. It felt like putting on a Superman suit and becoming someone entirely different. But that’s what makes acting so rewarding, it challenges you to see how far you can go.”
Having previously appeared in The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) and Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, Irfan believes Macai will resonate with audiences across Malaysia. “The beauty of this film is its authenticity, Chinese characters speak Chinese, Malays speak Malay. It’s very close to real life,” he said, urging fans to catch it in cinemas.
Macai is part of the Jagat Multiverse, a three-film celebration by Sun-J and Skyzen Studios, revisiting the world of Jagat and expanding it with two new spiritual sequels: Macai and Blues. This marks a decade-long legacy of Jagat and its continued influence on Malaysian cinema.