Arifin Putra

Putra Arifin Scheunemann (born 1 May 1987), known professionally as Arifin Putra, He reportedly still remains estranged from his father.

Arifin received his early education at the German International School in Jakarta, where he partook in several school plays and showed early interest in acting, often doing reenactments of films for his family. He graduated from the school in 2006 and initially did not intend to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. His parents’ divorce took a toll on him and turned him into a shy and reclusive child, though he eventually regained his cheerful personality with the help and support of his sister. As of 2020, Arifin is pursuing undergraduate studies in business management.

Career In 2000, Arifin tagged along with his sister to a television commercial shoot and was offered to be an extra, which he accepted on this occasion. At the end of the shoot, Arifin found himself motivated by the fact that he could earn a bit of extra pocket money while having fun. In the same year, he was a finalist in a cover boy competition hosted by a popular Indonesian teen magazine. Arifin was also in the running for MTV Indonesia’s VJ Hunt in 2003. Despite being unsuccessful in that particular competition, one thing led to another for Arifin, and so began his acting career.

Television (2000 – 2007) After landing his first major television role as a nerdy high school student on the national TV series Kisah Kasih di Sekolah (lit. High School Love Story) in 2004, Arifin was catapulted into fame. Weekends were dedicated to promoting the series in different parts of the country, and he soon became an instantly recognizable face. He has described this initial exposure to fame as “surreal and flattering, but very odd”. Deciding that he could pursue this as a career, Arifin enrolled at a notable local acting school Sakti Aktor Studio to receive formal training. He juggled a rigorous schedule of school, shooting and refining his acting skills for one-and-a-half year.

Film (2008 – present)

Arifin's first film was Lost in Love (2008), a sequel to the teen romance flick Eiffel I’m in Love (2003). In Lost in Love, his character was required to speak in French, English and Indonesian, which came natural to him as he took lessons in these languages as a highschooler. His first antagonist role as Adam, a psychopathic cold-blooded cannibal in Macabre (2009), was a departure from the characters he portrayed in previous works. Arifin's performance in the thriller caught the attention of moviegoers and film critics alike, and earned him a number of nominations and awards including Best Supporting Actor from the KUFI Film Awards.

Observes deem Arifin as a highly curious individual. This is apparent in his deliberate choice of film roles. He is particularly drawn to roles that challenge his comfort zone, as first seen in Macabre and subsequently in The Raid 2: Berandal. The show aired in 26 countries all across the Asia Pacific region.

Activism Apart from his career in the film industry, Arifin has been active in various philanthropic endeavours, mainly regarding environmental issues. He has been appointed as a WWF Warrior by the World Wildlife Fund Indonesia, and in 2017, as an ambassador for the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project (DSCP). The effort is a collaboration between the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, and WWF Indonesia, directed towards the preservation and protection of dugongs and seagrasses.

Filmography

Accolades