Veronaqbs at 15:10, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T15:10:31Z

New page

{{refimprove|date=December 2025}}
{{short description|Malaysian Indian actor (born 1995)}}
{{Infobox actor
| name = Irfan Zaini
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Muhammad Irfan bin Mohamed Zaini<ref name="M"/>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|06|05}}{{Efn|He was aged 26 on 05 June 2021.<ref name="The Sun"/> He was aged 30 on 5 June 2025.<ref name="NST 2"/>}}
| birth_place = [[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia
| other_names =
| occupation = Actor, model, television host
| years_active = 2008; 2014–present
| education =
| alma_mater =
| known_for =
}}

'''Muhammad Irfan Mohamed Zaini''' (born 5 June 1995) is a Malaysian Indian actor, model and television host.<ref name="M">{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/national/irfan-zaini-aims-to-bridge-malaysian-global-film-industries/ar-AA1JmALv?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1|title=Irfan Zaini aims to bridge Malaysian, global film industries|work=www.msn.com|first=Sinar|last=Daily|access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>

== Life and career ==
His father runs a food and beverage business, and his mother is a housewife. As a child, Irfan visited the sets of ''[[Kuruvi]]'' (2008) whilst the film crew was shooting in Malaysia and landed a role as the brother of [[Trisha Krishnan|Trisha]]'s character. He returned to studies based on his parents' advice and completed his bachelor's degree in International Business and Marketing. In October 2020, he started his own cosmetic company ''IZ Cosmetic'', which focuses on hair oil for hair loss.<ref name="The Sun">{{Cite web|url=https://thesun.my/style-life/entertainment/when-kollywood-beckons-HE7475955|title=When Kollywood beckons|work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]]|first=Bissme|last=S.|date=31 March 2021|access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref>

In 2024, he returned to Indian Tamil cinema with ''[[The Greatest of All Time]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2024/09/1104648/showbiz-irfan-starstuck-thalapathy-vijay|title=#SHOWBIZ: Irfan starstuck by 'Thalapathy' Vijay|date=11 September 2024|work=New Straits Times|access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref> He received nationwide acclaim for his role in ''[[Blood Brothers (2025 film)|Blood Brothers]]'' (2025), which he described as a playboy amongst the gangsters that provides comic relief.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2025/06/1233129/showbiz-irfan-zaini-shocked-after-obsessed-fan-injures-another|title=#SHOWBIZ: Irfan Zaini shocked after obsessed fan injures another posing with him|date=19 June 2025|work=New Straits Times|access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/05/07/local-indian-film-star-irfan-zaini-is-now-basking-in-the-limelight-after-impressive-display-in-local-runaway-hit-039blood-brothers-bara-naga039#goog_rewarded|title=Local Indian film star Irfan Zaini is now basking in the limelight after impressive display in local runaway hit 'Blood Brothers: Bara Naga'|first=S.|last=Navalan|work=New Straits Times|date=7 May 2025 |access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref><ref name="NST"/> For a scene in the film, Irfan was repeatedly hit 38 times as director Syafiq Yusof wanted to perfect the scene.<ref name="NST">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2025/04/1206763/showbiz-irfan-zaini-i-took-38-bashings-perfect-scene|title=#SHOWBIZ: Irfan Zaini: I took 38 'bashings' to perfect a scene|date=24 April 2025|work=New Straits Times|access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref> Regarding his role in the film ''Macai'', a critic noted that he looked "particularly cool from beginning to end".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asianmoviepulse.com/2025/02/film-review-macai-2025-by-sun-j-perumal/|title=Film Review: Macai (2025) by Sun-J Perumal|website=Asian Movie Pulse|date=2 February 2025|first=Panos|last=Kotzathanasis|access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref> Irfan starred in ''[[Jana Nayagan]]'' (2026), after Vijay gave him information on how to audition.<ref name="NST 2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2025/07/1239684/showbiz-irfan-star-thalapathy%C2%A0vijay-tamil-movie|title=#SHOWBIZ: Irfan to star with 'Thalapathy' Vijay in Tamil movie|date=3 July 2025|work=[[New Straits Times]]|access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref>

==Partial filmography==
*''Note''{{efn|As of 31 March 2021, he acted in five films and five television series.<ref name="The Sun"/>}}

===Films===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Language
! Notes
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Kuruvi]]''
| Devi's brother
| rowspan="3" | [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| Uncredited role<ref>{{Cite web|title='Acting Alongside Thalapathy Vijay Inspired Me to Become an Actor': Irfan Zaini Recalls|url=https://astroulagam.com.my/entertainment/acting-alongside-thalapathy-vijay-inspired-me-become-actor-irfan-zaini-recalls-194814|work=[[Astro (company)|Astro Ulagam]]|date=23 June 2021|access-date=20 August 2024|archive-date=29 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129223529/https://astroulagam.com.my/entertainment/acting-alongside-thalapathy-vijay-inspired-me-become-actor-irfan-zaini-recalls-194814|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Thirudathey Papa Thirudathey]]''
|
|
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Pulanaivu]]''
| Ravinder Singh
|
|-
| 2020
| ''Showtime 1958''
| David
| [[Malay language|Malay]]
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2022
| ''{{ill|Aval Thediyathu|ms}}''
|
| Tamil
|
|-
| ''Hantu Balik Pagi''
| Kumar
| Malay
| Telefilm
|-
| ''Dum Dum Dumeel''
| Thinesh
| Tamil
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2023
| ''[[Polis EVO 3]]''
| Irfan Zain
| Malay
| Cameo
|-
| ''Rajathathiram: The Piano''
| Gajen
| rowspan="5"|Tamil
|
|-
| ''[[Naam Katra Isai]]''
| Naqeed
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2024
| ''[[The Greatest of All Time]]''
| Johnson
|<ref name="The Sun"/>
|-
| ''[[C4 Cinta]]''
| Engagement guest
| Cameo
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2025
| ''Bad Days Don't Last''
|
| Short film<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://varnam.my/103733/bad-days-dont-last-a-thrilling-short-film-premieres-on-january-10th-2025/|title=Bad Days Don't Last - A Thrilling Short Film Premieres on January 10th, 2025|first=Tivyasruthi Nair Prem|last=Ananth|date=January 7, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Blood Brothers (2025 film)|Blood Brothers]]''
| Malik
| rowspan="2"|Malay
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sinardaily.my/article/718358/culture/entertainment/blood-brothers-smashes-box-office-irfans-biggest-role-yet|title=Blood Brothers smashes box office, Irfan's biggest role yet|work=www.sinardaily.my|access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>
|-
| ''{{ill|Macai (film)|ms|Macai (filem)}}''
| Jack
|
|-
| ''Irudhi Strike''
| Naqeed
| rowspan="3" |Tamil
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2026
| ''[[Jana Nayagan]]''
| Salman
|Delayed
|-
|''Irumbuth Thottam (Ladang Besi)''
|Rahim
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Channel
! Language
! Notes
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Smart Wheel]]''
| Host
| rowspan="4" | [[Astro Vinmeen]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|
|-
| 2021
| ''Mente''
| Rakesh
| rowspan="3"|Tamil
|<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Fs7YRG_PQ|title=Irfan Zaini {{|}} Mente {{|}} Vinmeen HD|date=19 March 2021|work=[[Astro Vinmeen]]|access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2022
| ''Astra''
|
|
|-
| ''Magarantham''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2023
| ''{{ill|Akira Khan|ms}}''
| Zafar Khan
| [[Astro Ria]]
| [[Malay language|Malay]]
|
|-
| ''[[Manmadha Bullets]]''
|
| Astro Vinmeen
| Tamil
| Season 2
|-
| ''Andai Itu Takdirnya''
| Jay
| Astro Ria
| Malay
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2024
| ''Miss Rasathi''
|
| Astro Vinmeen
| Tamil
|
|-
| ''[[Takdir Itu Milik Aku]]''
| Alando
| [[Astro Ria]]
| Malay
|
|-
| ''Mei''
| Deva
| [[Mediacorp Vasantham]]
| Tamil
|
|-
| ''{{ill|Nafsu (TV series)|ms|Nafsu (drama web)}}''
| Inspector Shariff
| [[Viu (streaming service)|Viu]]
| rowspan="3"|Malay
| 1 episode
|-
| rowspan="2" |2025
| ''[[One Cent Thief|One Cent Thief 2]]''
| Mohan
| rowspan="2" | [[Astro Citra]]
|
|-
| ''{{ill|Honey Trap (TV series)|ms|Honey Trap}}''
| Megat Borhan
|
|-
|}

== Awards ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Work
! Result
! class="unsortable" | {{refh}}
|-
| 2021 || [[Raaga.com]] Malaysian Star of the Month (May) || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || <ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkYhVH4q7ss|title=Irfan Zaini Is Our Malaysian Star Of The Month|date=May 28, 2021|work=[[Raaga.com]]|via=YouTube|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|2024 || rowspan="2"| MICA Awards || Best Actor || ''Dum Dum Dumeel'' || {{nom}} || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=907010088099067&set=pcb.907010144765728|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>
|-
| Best Villain || ''[[Naam Katra Isai]]'' || {{won}} || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cj.my/147109/irfan-zaini-makes-mark-in-indian-cinema-with-role-in-goat/|title=Irfan Zaini makes mark with a role in upcoming movie "GOAT" - Citizens Journal|date=August 19, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|2026
|Desam International Icon Awards (DIIA)
|Best Actor
|
|{{won}}
|
|}

== Notes ==
{{noteslist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|10678096}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaini, Irfan}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1995 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Malaysian actors]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Actors of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian film actors]]
[[Category:Malaysian television actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]

Irfan Zaini - Revision history

Veronaqbs at 15:10, 8 May 2026