Two girls from Kuching posted in Kakiseni’s guestbook in March: “Really a good site u have here but should add more of Rashid Salleh’s pic. Actually, we are a big fan of him. We admire his natural acting especially in Toll Gate Girl, starring Amy Mastura. Furthermore, he brought his character in Kopitiam well, plus his role in Toll Gate Girl made us really admire his strong and interesting personality.”
So, in response to that request, we turned our attention this time to the strong and interesting Rashid Salleh. Despite the amount of pheromones he inspires, pretty boy Rashid remains at heart a shy, simple boy; he would hate to be called a pretty boy. Above all things, he believes in honest hard work. And he may actually be the hardest working actor in town. Besides presently decking the halls in The Importance of Being Earnest at The Actors Studio Bangsar, he will be appearing in a guest spot as Cheryl Samad’s brother in upcoming TV series Each Other, as well as in Othman Hasham’s next movie Soalnya Siapa with Erra Fazira and Afdlin Shauki. His amazing learning curve also negotiates a new tangent as he directs a few episodes in another upcoming TV series Gadis Tiga. Meanwhile, he officiates the rumour that everybody’s favourite Kopitiam will open for business soon.
I must apologise. The day I went and stalked Rashid (Friday, May 24) on behalf of all humanity, I couldn’t be with him the whole time. After his rehearsal for Each Other in the afternoon, we went separate ways for a while. Rashid had to go to Petaling Jaya to collect his Proton, with its new coat of white paint on the bonnet and front bumper (yes, some lucky car got a good rimming recently). Much as I wanted to, I couldn’t follow him into the garage. While Rashid gets his car, I had made an appointment in the late afternoon to sell my own car. Parting with my little white Kancil of seven years depressed me somewhat. Nevertheless, after receiving the cheque (which cheered me a little) I hopped onto an LRT train and got to The Actors Studio Bangsar as quick as I could. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t let me into the dressing room to photograph Rashid in various states of undress. Opening night tension, they say.
Poor Rashid did seem a little nervous. Maybe he’s just trying to be careful not to trip on the hem of his exquisite smoking gown. Or maybe it’s the pink hosiers (even Quentin Crisp would have been nervous). In any case, his one liners sent me into such a fit I almost couldn’t operate the camera. I certainly felt much better after the play. Furthermore, later that night, Rashid gave me a ride in his revitalised vehicle, which helped me get over my Kancil. Gosh, the actor is really as sweet as the soft toys on his dashboard.
But forget sweet. Catch him now in all the wicked shades of pink in The Importance of Being Earnest.
First Published: 29.05.2002 on Kakiseni