For a Chinese-Indonesian Verdi Sulaeman, becoming an actor means defying stereotypes, carving his own path without his father's shadow and proving that the face of Indonesia has never been just one.
Verdi Sulaeman kept his acting ambitions hidden from his father, the legendary actor Hengky Solaiman. Verdi said he deliberately chose an acting school where none of his father's friends or colleagues would recognise him. He admitted he felt guilty because his father had funded his education all the way to the United States in a completely different field, only for him to suddenly want to become an actor, he told SBS Indonesian.
As a Chinese-Indonesian, Verdi faced a distinct challenge in the film industry, he said. Early in his career, Verdi said, producers did not see his face as Indonesian, and many openly told him there were no roles for him.
Rather than wait for the right part to come along, he said he pursued characters other actors avoided, ones that demanded specific skill. That strategy made him known for his extraordinary range, taking on villains, comedic roles and action parts alike, Verdi added. He has since appeared in roughly 100 titles, including The Raid, Gadis Kretek, Buya Hamka, and Susana.
Verdi now also works behind the camera as a director. He made his directorial debut with the series Code Helix on Vidio.com and was working on the feature film Ronggeng Kematian.
Verdi said his love is not for any single profession but for the world of film itself. Growing up, his home doubled as a filming location and he often appeared as an extra, he said. His wife is also an actress, and his child recently took part in a short film, he added. In early 2025, he enrolled in an Australia Awards Short Course in Brisbane on screenwriting and directing to further develop his craft.
Listen to the full conversation with Verdi Sulaeman to learn more about his journey in the film industry.
