Antara.

Words Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak Photos Jerry Adiguna

If a name could tell all about a person, then Bunga Citra Lestari, also known simply as BCL, is the complete professional package in the entertainment industry.

Bearing three first names that translate as “perpetual image of a flower”, the model, actress and singer is one of two people in the public eye better known by an eponymous acronym (the other would be SBY, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono).

The entertainer’s popularity soared after she played the female lead in Habibie & Ainun, released in December 2012, which gained more than 4 million viewers at the box office.

It earned her a nomination as best leading actress at the Indonesia Movie Awards and Bandung Film Festival in 2013, while her rendition of the film’s theme song “Cinta Sejati” (True Love) was honored as the best soundtrack at the Indonesia Movie Awards.

Also in 2013, Bunga released the album The Best of BCL at about the same time as Globe Asia magazine named her the third richest Indonesian entertainer, with her estimated wealth of Rp 12.7 billion partly amassed from fees singing at on- and off-air events, as well as royalties from her songs made into ringback tones by telecommunication providers.

After choosing to be absent from the big screen for the past four years, Bunga is making her comeback this year in four films, all representing different genres.

In two of the films, Upi Avianto’s comedy My Stupid Boss (released in May) and Iman Brotoseno’s sports biopic 3 Srikandi (scheduled for release in August), Bunga is once again cast opposite Reza Rahadian – her on-screen spouse in Habibie & Ainun. In Guntur Soeharjanto’s romance Jilbab Traveler: Love Sparks in Korea, now in theaters, and Garin Nugroho’s tale of people with dementia, Mooncake Story, currently in post-production, she plays opposite scene-stealer Morgan Oey.

“Being Ainun was great and I wanted to keep it for the longest time. I declined many films after that and focused on singing instead,” Bunga said in an interview after the release of “Aku Bisa Apa?” (What Can I Do?), the theme song she performs for Jilbab Traveler.

“But then at some point I missed acting and that was when I got the call to replace Dian Sastrowardoyo as Olympic archer Nurfitriyana in ‘3 Srikandi’.”

The calls for new roles kept coming, and she could not refuse them.

“I wished I had enough time to explore each character, but it’s just the way it was this time,” she said.

In My Stupid Boss, Bunga plays a nerdy secretary, while in Jilbab Traveler she wears the hijab for her character.

“Once I put on the ‘hijab’, I became the character. It helped a lot in my acting because I didn’t have much time to work on the character.”

The character, she said, presented a contrast to common representations of Muslim women in religious-themed films where they were victimized by polygamy.

“I take an acting job based on two things: the character given to me and the story. It’s a plus if I could work with renowned directors and a good ensemble cast.

“However, being in a film is like matchmaking. I have to be available to make it work. And when it’s a match, I give my 100 percent to it.”

3 Srikandi: (Courtesy of Multivision Plus Pictures)
ALL IN A DAY’S WORK

Her commitment to her job was evident in how she spent the whole day in the suburb of Depok to promote Jilbab Traveler, then returned to Jakarta for the launch of the single. After breaking the fast, she did a marathon series of interviews until late evening.

“Whenever there is a promotional event, I would think of the event concept and prepare myself on what to do, what to sell, what to say or what not to say. I wouldn’t be here just for the sake of making an appearance,” she said.

Bunga is among the few artists who eagerly steps up for film promotions and is actively involved in it, even offering to perform on the soundtrack if the song is right.

She sings “Tundukkan Dunia” (Conquer the World), composed by Andi Rianto, for 3 Srikandi, and even suggested the title “Aku Bisa Apa?” to song creator Melly Goeslaw for Jilbab Traveler.

“The original title was good, too, but I believed it had been used by another song. This title is much catchier,” said Bunga.

Both songs are especially meaningful to Bunga as they were the last two supervised by music producer Suwardi Widjaja from Aquarius who launched her career in the music industry. Suwardi passed away late last year.

“Pak Iin was like a father to me. He hadn’t been able to listen to ‘Aku Bisa Apa’ but on the day before he passed away he specifically called Melly to remind her about finishing it,” she said.

“This song was the first I had a full hand in its vocal and music arrangement.”

Born in Jakarta on March 22, 1983, Bunga spent her childhood in South Sumatra and Aceh before returning to the capital where she joined a modelling agency. She started as a cover girl at age 16 and by chance was also cast as the talent for a commercial. While with a friend in a shopping mall, they were approached to take part in an audition for a teen sinetron (soap opera) by production house Multivision Plus that opened the way for her acting career.

A student of management studies at Trisakti University at that time, Bunga was a regular face on TV screens as she was involved in two to three sinetron.

Bunga, however, didn’t take her luck for granted.

“I take whatever I do seriously. Although I gave my 100 percent at that time, I always think I could have done it better. I’m not easily satisfied.”

In the past year, she only had a one-week break during the New Year between shooting schedules.

“I could keep going on adrenaline alone,” she quipped. “Give me a day-off and I would surely get sick.”

The strong determination to always do her best was clear since she was young; the recounts how she once forced herself to study without any sleep. Her effort resulted in one week of confined to her bed.

“At that time my father told me that it’s OK not to always be number one, but he expected me to always do my best and take good care of myself,” she said.

“Since then my mindset changed from ambition and being competitive to always putting myself first in doing things. I keep on reminding myself to relax. I want to be happy while working, that’s the only way I could do my best in it.”

MISS CONGENIALITY

Bunga is married to Malaysian TV personality Ashraf Sinclair, who is currently developing his acting career in Indonesia and who appeared with her in the main cast in romantic comedy Saus Kacang (Peanut Sauce) in 2008, the year they were married.

The couple and their young son, Noah Sinclair, are among the Instagram celebrities whose pictures make headlines in online news.

“As a woman, I want to be a good mother, a good wife, a good daughter and a good friend. But I also want to have a good career, too. I’m grateful to have my husband and my family supporting me.”

Bunga’s support system goes beyond her small family, her parents, brother and cousins.

“I have to befriend everyone working with me. My manager and makeup artist are my friends. I could only be comfortable working with familiar faces around me. It’s like carrying one’s home to work.”

It’s not difficult for Bunga to befriend everyone on the set with her cheerful, straightforward personality.

“What you see is what you get,” she said in describing herself. “What I don’t show to people are pain and problems.”

She could lift up the mood at a shooting location after a long day just by talking.

She would be the first person to greet journalists and help them through their questions, while praising fellow actors and directors whenever she got the chance.

“Reza Rahadian is like my acting guru. He is incredible. I had my doubts about Morgan at first and it burdened me because I was the most senior among the cast,” she said of the former boyband member.

“But he turned out to be very good, yet so humble and willing to learn. And I told Reza how impressive Morgan is.”

She said that juggling dual professions was not easy, but she has no intention to change although her husband was currently talking her into producing her own films.

“There have been comments on why should I sing if I could act and vice versa. But I’m good at doing both and I’m happy doing each of them. I would not do something I’m not capable of doing.”