(JP/Dian Kuswandini)

Nirina Zubir has tried just about everything — lightening people’s moods as a radio DJ and MTV VJ, appearing on television as a presenter, starring in commercials, acting the part of various characters and even showing up as an impromptu singer.

But despite her delight and enthusiasm for all those roles, Nirina reveals she’s got her eye on a newrole in life. Which is?

A mother, she says.

Those who are familiar with her might find it difficult to imagine the super-busy, tomboy and child-like Nirina finally settling down, turning calm and mature. But the 29-year-old says she’s now at the point where she believes she should pull herself out of the crowd and enjoy her new, simple journey into motherhood.

“I had been wondering about when I would become mature,” says Nirina, who’s now in her fourth month of pregnancy. “It turns out that the maturity that I had been waiting for so long has arrived now — when I’m expecting my baby.”

Nirina, who in April this year married Ernest Fardian Sjarif, the guitarist of pop band Cokelat, says this break from work has allowed her to pay closer attention to many things.

“I used to work all the time like crazy so I only looked at what was right in front of me,” she says.

Smiling, she adds, “But as I stop, I can just look around and realize there are actually many interesting things to see.”

This, she says, has made her realize that her past life was all about “self-centrist”: She worked every day to entertain others, yet without really having the chance to enjoy her own life.

“Being an entertainer wasn’t even my childhood dream,” says this diplomat’s daughter, who was born in Madagascar and whose real name is Nirina Raudhatul Jannah. “I always wanted to have a job that isn’t a nine-to-five one, because I thought that would be boring.”

Her dream, she adds, was to become a stewardess. “I thought it would be fun to travel all over the world,” says Nirina, who spent most of her childhood abroad.

But as time passed, she lost interest in chasing that dream.

“I thought being a stewardess would be boring too,” she laughs, quickly adding, “All they do is serve passengers.”

So Nirina, who graduated from the STIE Perbanas School of Economics, looked for other options. But she had no plans to be a radio DJ either — her first job in MTVonSky radio station (now MTV Sky) started from a friendly joke.

“It was my friends who submitted the application [to MTVonSky] for me; I had no idea about it,” Nirina says of the unforgettable memo-ry from 1999. “My friends noticed that I’m such a talkative person and they always said: ‘it would be best if you could generate money from talking’,” she adds with a laugh.

That joke turned into a major change in her life. Quite beyond her expectations, MTVonSky hired Nirina because of her distinctive noisy-yet-witty personality.  

“So there was my [first] opportunity [in the entertainment world].”

That first opportunity led Nirina to other, bigger, things. After landing one of the coolest jobs around — MTV video jockey — Nirina quickly shot to fame. Her other talents were then noticed, including her ability to speak Mandarin, which she learned while living in Hong Kong and China for several years as a child. Former president Megawati Sukarnoputri even asked Nirina to become her personal interpreter during the 2000 Indonesian visit by the Chinese vice president. Her popularity then led to some movie roles, including in 30 Hari Mencari Cinta (30 Days to Find Love) and Mirror.

And it wouldn’t be Nirina if she didn’t have plenty of things to pursue. Her rising popularity as an MTV VJ for Indonesia tickled her ambitious side to think of spreading her wings onto the international scene. As her contract with MTV Indonesia neared its end, Nirina made plans: She was eyeing the position of international VJ for MTV Southeast Asia.

“The thing is, I wouldn’t give up on that. Not until they told me: ‘Enough, ‘Na [short for Nirina]’,” she once said of her ambitious plan.

The ambitious plan was never realized. After resigning from MTV Indonesia in 2005, Nirina’s international VJ career never materialized. Instead, she hosted several TV shows and starred in more movies, including Belahan Jiwa (Soul Mate), Heart, Kamulah Satu-satunya (You’re the Only One), Get Married and again in her latest release, Get Married 2.

Nirina has continued to grow as an actress, receiving several awards, including the prestigious 2006 Indonesian Film Festival Award and the 2008 Indonesia Movie Award — both for best actress.

Looking back at her achievements, Nirina realizes now how she truly fell in love with performing arts.

“I love the arts, and arts can be anything — acting, dancing or singing,” says Nirina, who even had the chance to sing for the original soundtracks of her movies. “I think I just want to do as many things as I can.”

Of course, she can still find some limits. Like now, when the mother-to-be just wants to spend some quiet time at home with her husband.

“Enough with the crowd,” she says with a smile. “I’ve found peace at home where I can do anything that I want … sleeping … eating … just anything.”

Has she gained much weight through her new “lazy activities”?

“Of course! I gained a lot,” Nirina laughs. “But I don’t care whenever people comment on how fat I am. If I’m fat, then I’m healthy and when I’m healthy then so is my baby.”

Nirina believes it’s important to stay positive during her pregnancy, although she has to had accept some bad news from her doctor: She was diagnosed with a myoma, a benign tumor in the uterus.

“My doctor said I couldn’t deliver the baby normally because of the myoma,” she says, still managing a cheerful tone. “But that is what he said. We don’t know until the D-day comes and I believe God will decide for the best.”

And she doesn’t stop smiling as she adds, “After all, I just want to enjoy myself and take care of this pregnancy.”

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