Challenge of Portraying an Agnostic Youth, Achmad Megantara's Totality in 'WORSHIP AND LOVE'

Kapanlagi.com - Achmad Megantara faces a different challenge in portraying the character Rico in the film WORSHIP AND LOVE. The 30-year-old actor is trusted to play a youth of Indonesian descent who grows up in Melbourne, Australia, with agnostic views due to his family background. This romantic drama with religious nuances is directed by Jastis Arimba and produced by Sinemata Buana Kreasindo (SBK).

Achmad mentioned that understanding Rico's way of thinking was one of the hardest tasks since the pre-shooting phase.

"For Rico, as long as he is good to others and his peers, he feels sufficient. But that is his denial. Deep down in his heart, Rico still feels lacking," said Megan when met in South Jakarta on Thursday (30/7/2026).

According to him, the inner conflict that Rico has is not simple, thus requiring emotional depth to make the character's actions and choices feel convincing on screen.

1. Achmad Megantara Delves into Rico's Way of Thinking

Rico is portrayed as being far from religious life since his parents divorced. This situation shapes a perspective that makes him feel content with doing good to others, even though he still harbors unanswered restlessness within himself. This psychological outline becomes the focus of the in-depth exploration conducted by Achmad before entering the set.

He emphasizes that unraveling the layers of Rico's inner self is the main challenge. The process is not merely technical but requires sensitivity to the motivations and anxieties that drive the character's actions.

In this process, Achmad places an understanding of Rico's family background and upbringing as the key. He uses this approach to maintain the consistency of Rico's attitudes, responses, and decisions throughout the story.

2. Character Research: From Agnostic Friends to the Gestures of a Young Expat

Asri Faradila's husband does not only rely on the script when building his character. He conducts direct research to understand Rico's perspective and mindset more authentically, including exploring references from the experiences of people with similar views.

"I have a friend who is agnostic, I once asked him about it. He replied that he doesn't care about religion, what matters is that I believe in the existence of God," he said.

In addition to the psychological aspect, Achmad also studies the lifestyle habits of a young man of Indonesian descent raised in a Western cultural environment. He learns gestures, ways of speaking, and daily habits to ensure that Rico's representation, who grew up in Melbourne, feels natural and aligns with his character's background.

3. Synopsis of Worship and Love, Cast List, and Release Schedule

WORSHIP AND LOVE tells the story of Rico's journey back to Indonesia with his friend, Ganda. During his journey, Rico stops at a pesantren and meets Santun, the daughter of Kiai Umar, who is also a young ustazah. This meeting marks the beginning for Rico to learn about prayer while rediscovering the meaning of faith in his life.

On the other hand, Santun faces personal conflict as she must choose between following the arranged marriage set by her father or fighting for her own heart's choice. Their inner struggles become the common thread of the story, blending elements of romance, family, and the search for identity.

In addition to Achmad Megantara and Indah Permatasari, this film also stars Mathias Muchus, Elma Theana, Adhin Abdul Hakim, Berlliana Lovell, Sita Permata Sari, Didi Hasyim, Erwin Rakiman, Irene Librawati, Jamie Aditya, and Stevan Rizky. Directed by Jastis Arimba from a screenplay by Ifan Adriansyah Ismail, WORSHIP AND LOVE is scheduled to be released in cinemas across Indonesia starting September 24, 2026.

(kpl/pur/ums)