Nasrul Suhaimin bin Saifuddin (born 27 September 1978), known professionally as Bront Palarae, is a Malaysian actor, film director, screenwriter and producer.
Bront built his career in the early 2001 with roles in Castello, Bilut & 1957: Hati Malaya. He also frequently collaborated with director Mamat Khalid resulted in the films Man Laksa (2006) & Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang (2008). They also co-wrote the script together for Tipah Tertipu The Movie (2006) which he also starred in.
Bront portrayed a private investigator in Belukar (2010). He was the producer of One Two Jaga (2018), which won 6 awards including Best Picture at 30th Malaysia Film Festival.
Early life and education Bront was born in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. His father is of mixed Malay, Siam & Chinese descent whereas his mother's family is Thai & Pakistani where her surnamed was "Palarae" () hence his stage name; his mother migrated across the border to Malaysia to start a new life together after their marriage. Bront is fluent in Thai himself.
Personal life In 2005, he received a scholarship from the Italian government to attend a short course in Language & Culture at the University for Foreigners Perugia, Italy. He overstayed and toured the country for the next four months.
He took another sabbatical in 2017, this time, he chose Palo Alto, California as his destination. With a scholarship from Ministry of Finance Malaysia, he pursued and completed Innovation & Entrepreneurship Studies at Stanford University.
He later studied at the Asia School of Business.https://sinarplus.sinarharian.com.my/article/186252/lifestyle/inspirasi/bront-palarae-genggam-ijazah-sarjana-pentadbiran-perniagaan-5-tahun-mencuba-16-bulan-yang-memenatkan-sangat-berbaloi and graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2026. His studies included an academic immersion at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Acting career
2001–2008: Early years Palarae made his acting debut on television in 2001 with the telemovie Mat Nor Kusyairi & The Velvet Boys directed by Mamat Khalid and produced by Tiara Jacquelina. His collaboration with Mamat Khalid brought him onto his first feature film Lang Buana (2003). He first gained fame by portraying two characters in Cinta Tsunami, a television series in 2005.
In 2008, with the release of his biggest commercial success, Sindarela (Cinderella), he rose to prominence in a lead role, Hussin on the hit television series with Sharifah Amani and Remy Ishak, followed by another television series, Rona Roni Makaroni in the same year, again with Sharifah Amani.
2009–2015: Breaking into film Uncomfortable with his career direction, the media-shy actor turned his focus to film roles. Since then, he started attracting a variety of roles in films including Anak Halal (2005), Man Laksa (2005) and Bilut (2005). His first major role was in V3: Samseng Jalanan, starring alongside Farid Kamil who also directed the movie.
In 2009, Palarae starred in Belukar alongside Daphne Iking, directed by Jason Chong. Though the movie did not do well at the box office, his acting was praised among critics and audiences alike. He won the Best Actor award at the 23rd Malaysia Film Festival and also the Anugerah Skrin 2010 for his performance in Belukar.
In 2010, Palarae co-founded Otto Films and through the company, he co-produced, co-written & co-directed Kolumpo, a feature film released in 2013. He also served Camwerk Studios as a Creative Consultant to help developed The Kidnap Case of Ammar Affendi and secured a co-production deal with RexMedia (US) at the Marche Du Film at Festival De Cannes at the same year. He was later appointed as the Brand Ambassador for Edwin Denim Malaysia and also the face of local fashion designer Fairuz Ramdhan.
2016–present: Going regional In 2016, Palarae starred in the sport history film Ola Bola, Chiu Keng Guan's latest film after the record-breaking The Journey. Not only that the film made RM15.85 million and became the 5th highest-grossing Malaysian film of all time, Bront also won the Kuala Lumpur Critics' Choice Award 2016 in the Best Supporting category, for his role in the film.
After winning the Best Actor award for Terbaik Dari Langit at the Asean International Film Festivals (AIFFA) 2015, he was roped in for HBO Asia's original series titled Halfworlds directed by Indonesian filmmaker, Joko Anwar. He later joined the Mo Brothers on their latest film titled Headshot, starring Iko Uwais. In 2016, Palarae joined the cast of comedy film My Stupid Boss as a collaboration with another Indonesian filmmaker, Upi Avianto.
At the recent 2016 Asian Television Award, Palarae was nominated for his role in the telemovie Eropah, Here I am through the "Best Actor In A Leading Role" category.
Bront later appeared on Pengabdi Setan (Satan's Slave), a remake of classic Indonesian horror film by Joko Anwar. This would be his second collaboration with Joko after HBO Asia's Halfworlds series. Pengabdi Setan became the highest-grossing film in Indonesia for 2017 and being distributed in 26 countries under CJ Entertainment (Korea). They later made two films together, Gundala in 2019 & Pengabdi Setan 2: Communion
In 2020, he won the Best Actor award at 25th Asian Television Awards (ATA) for his role as Inspektor Megat in the asian adaptation of The Bridge series. He also starred in an adventure drama Edge of the World, directed by Michael Haussman and starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the British soldier and adventurer James Brooke (1803–1868), the first White Rajah of Sarawak.
Humanitarian work In 2012, Palarae joined the AQSA2Gaza11 Emergency Relief trip to Gaza.
He was the goodwill ambassadors for the UNICEF's My Promise To Children campaign to emphasise children's rights in Malaysia.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2003 Lang Buana Perdana Debut film appearance2006 Man Laksa Mat Topoi Castello Chet Bilut Rosli Tipah Tertipu The Movie Bad Guy2007 1957: Hati Malaya Muzaffar Anak Halal Danny Apa Khabar Orang Kampung (Village People Radio Show) Radio Actor2008 Akhirat Ramon Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang Mahinder Singh Antoo Fighter: Amukan Drakulat Rambo2009 Setem Abu Bakar / 'Burn' 15Malaysia Pedophile Man Episode: "Lolipop", short film anthology2010 V3 Samseng Jalanan Brett Belukar Nik2011 Vote! Video short Jalan Pintas Homeless Man Quattro Hongkong 2 Segment: "Open Verdict" Kongsi Kempedu Sekali Lagi Haris Ombak Rindu Ismail2012 Bunohan Deng Jiwa Taiko Pinto Lagenda Budak Setan 2: Katerina Hisyam2013 Juvana Warden Encik Raja Cameo Bikers Kental Ponthaliwat Psiko: Si Pencuri Hati O. Sidi Kolumpo Police Officer A Also as director and writer2014 Sejoli: Misi Cantas Cinta Jo Lagenda Budak Setan 3: Kasyah Hisyam Pintu Neraka Norzain Anak Jantan Somchai Dollah Superstar Himself Cameo Terbaik Dari Langit Berg2015 Redemption Night Rahman Jwanita Farhan Girlfriend Kontrak Zain2016 Ola Bola Rahman My Stupid Boss Adrian Headshot Interpol Agent Ali Indonesian film Hanyut Sayed Rashid Art Through Our Eyes The Stranger Segment 'Aku"2017 Kau Takdirku Harris Satan's Slaves (Pengabdi Setan) Bahri Suwono Indonesian film Ayat-Ayat Cinta 2 Baruch 2018 Dukun Shah One Two Jaga Investigating Officer Also as producer2019 Bikers Kental 2 Ponthaliwat Fly by Night Inspector Kamal KL Vampires Himself Opening voice over Wira Colenal Izzar Cameo Gundala PengkorIndonesian film Love Is a Bird Darma 2020 Motel Acacia Bront Philippines film Tyickoouns Long Ewayang.com film Hail, Driver! Toompang Broker 2021 Edge of the World Pengiran Indera Mahkota Zombitopia Dr. Rahman Barbarian Invasion Adnan Proksi Sam2022 Stone Turtle Samad Satan's Slaves 2: Communion (Pengabdi Setan 2) Bahri Suwono Indonesian film Seratus Elevator Passengers Cameo2023 Harum Malam Norman Eraser Judge 1 Special appearance Sumpahan Jerunei Dr. Sani MALBATT: Misi Bakara Major Adnan Sleep Call Tommy Indonesian film Wow+ Dr. Zaman Khan Short film Abang Adik Kamarul Special appearance 2024 The Cursed Land Heem Thai film2025 Gantung: Kod Musketeer Cameo Dendam Malam Kelam Arya Pradana Indonesian film Mencari Ramlee Theater Actor Zakaria Cameo Tee Yai: Born To Be Bad Chief Police Weera Netflix Originals Thailand2026 Libang Libu Mr Bront Special appearance Ghost in the Cell Jefry Indonesian film Kong Tao Amin Malaysia-Thailand film Tarung: Unforgiven Khalid Red Before Dawn TBA My Wife is a Gangster Kobra Indonesian film; Post-production Sabung Jay Post-production The Diary Warden Kiatt Thai film Safari Mall Himself Post-production
Television series Year Title Role TV channel Notes 2003 Dengan Nama Cinta NTV72004 Rumah itu Duniaku TV1 Garisan Takdir Mediacorp Suria Cinta Tsunami Amran / Rangsit TV3 2007 Cinta Secangkir Kopi Ammar TV92008 Sindarella Hussein TV3 Rona Roni Makaroni Roni Astro Ria2009 Tower 13 Adam / Johan Ariff TV3 Tangkal Besi Astro Citra 2010 Ibn Battuta: The Animated Series TV2 Voice only 2011 Juvana Warden Encik Raja / Balaji TV3 Hajar Aswad Asrul AswadTV92012 Pulau Azri Projek Pop 8TV Special appearance I Eat KL Unifi TV 2015 Halfworlds (Season 1) Gusti HBO 2016 Dark Triptych 1 episode2018 Doors: A Philippines Horror Anthology BOO Episode: "Daddy's Home" Folklore MP HBO Episode: "Toyol" 2018–2020 The Bridge Megat Jamil HBO/Viu 2023 Katarsis Dr. Alfons Vidio 2026 Kisah Bawah Tanah Bang Kai Astro Prima Voice only
Telemovie Year Title Role TV channel 2001 Mat Nor Kusyairi & The Velvet Boys Mat Topoi NTV7 2003 Neon Ringgo's FriendVCD 2004 Zon 606 Fariz 2009 Senandung Malam Astro Prima 2010 Bunga Rampai Musim Tengkujuh Jamal TV1 2012 Kasih Bumi Bumi TV9 2013 New York Cinta Seth Astro First Exclusive 2014 Sebenarnya Khaliff TV3 2015 3 Nota Atoi Astro Prima 2016 Eropah, Here I AM BukhariAstro Citra 2017 Kekasih Elektrik Amri Rohaizad Fan 2018 Janji Zehan-Lahzeya Bi Payan Faizal Astro First Exclusive
Television Year Title Role Network 2003 Beat TV Host Astro Ria
TV commercials Year Title 2006 Hotlink Maxis Prepaid 2008 Visit Singapore 2021 Saji: Mangkuk Tingkat Mak Teh 2021 Netflix Bila Raya Tak Payah Ber 2022 Samsung: Rezeki Memori 2026 MBSB Bank: Rezeki Mutiara 2026 Takaful Ikhlas: Raya Ads
Videography Music video Year Song title Artist 2013 "Menunggu" Akim Ahmad 2017 "Kembali" Kaka Azraff
Awards and nominations