Director Anggy Umbara Reveals Luna Maya Was Not the First Choice for the Main Role in the Film 'GUNDIK'

Kapanlagi.com - The name Luna Maya was apparently not the first choice that came to mind for Anggy Umbara when selecting the main actor for his latest horror-thriller film, GUNDIK. The renowned director had considered another name before finally choosing the actress born in Denpasar.

Anggy admitted that from the beginning, he and his team had compiled a list of artists to be proposed for the role of Sang Nyai. However, Luna Maya was not the first selected from that list.

"We initially listed all the actors, we chose the top five names. Honestly, at first, it was not Luna, there was another name," said Anggy during the release of the poster and trailer for GUNDIK at XXI Jatinegara, East Jakarta, Wednesday (23/4/2025).

1. Spontaneous Decision

© KapanLagi.com/Fikri Alfi Rosyadi

The decision to contact Luna Maya actually came spontaneously after reconsideration from Anggy. It was done informally, through a text message that received an immediate response from the actress.

"At that time, I was just messing around and WhatsApped Luna, and thankfully she replied. Then we met at a sushi place. I said I wanted to make a heist movie, and she thought I wanted her to be a robber," Anggy said with a laugh.

2. Offer Well Received

However, the real intention was to offer Luna the role of Sang Nyai, the main character who is very different from typical characters. After reading the script, Luna welcomed the offer positively.

"In the end, Luna agreed, then she read the script and it went straight to production," Anggy said.

3. New Acting Challenge

For Luna Maya, the role of Nyai is a new challenge that cannot be compared to her previous acting experiences. She has to embody a character that is not entirely human, yet not a conventionally mystical being either.

"The difficulty is that Nyai is a human, yes but no, a spirit yes but no. So she is indeed a person who lives in two worlds, which I have never encountered before," said Luna.

4. Hard to Find References

The dark, complex, and multilayered character of Nyai makes it difficult for Luna to find references to shape her approach to acting. She also tries to understand this character from an emotional and spiritual perspective.

"So I still don't have a reference for a person or figure who lives in the world of immortality or something that dark for her to sometimes kill like in the gaming world, she laughs, she is happy like that," she explained.

5. Character Deepening Process

According to Luna, the most striking difference between herself and the character Nyai is in the dark and irrational side of the character. This makes the character deepening process a truly new experience for her.

"Whereas a Luna or a human in general, as far as I know, I interact with, there’s never been anyone that dark," she said.

6. Difficult to Imagine and Feel

The fictional character Nyai, mixed with local mythology such as Nyi Roro Kidul or Nyi Blorong, requires Luna to imagine a figure she has never encountered in reality. This becomes one of the most challenging aspects of her acting career.

"So, that’s the part that’s quite tough because she is very much alive in a very dark world, which I find hard to imagine and feel entering into Nyai because I have never met Nyi Roro Kidul or Nyi Blorong, I don’t even know if they actually exist," Luna said.

7. About the Film GUNDIK

The film GUNDIK tells the story of four robbers who break into the house of a mistress of a high-ranking official. They are unaware that the woman is Nyai, a mystical being who holds many secrets.

In addition to Luna Maya, this film also features renowned actors and actresses such as Maxime Bouttier, Agus Kuncoro, Ratu Sofya, Rukman Rosadi, Tyo Pakusadewo, and Arief Didu. This lineup of big names is combined to create tension in the storyline.

The film GUNDIK is scheduled to be released simultaneously in cinemas across Indonesia on May 22, 2025. Through this film, Anggy and Luna hope to present a show that is not only entertaining but also leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

(kpl/far/rsp)