Tuan Haji Ahmad Nabil Ahmad (born 26 September 1983) is a Malaysian entertainer, comedian and actor. He worked as a motorcycle courier before winning the 2008 season of comedy competition Raja Lawak. Nabil has since won an award for hosting multiple television programs, beginning with MeleTOP in 2012, which he still hosts. He further expanded his roles by becoming a producer in 2017, and a film writer and director in 2018.
Nabil Ahmad | |
|---|---|
| نبيل أحمد | |
 Nabil in a promotion for Anugerah MeleTOP Era in 2016 | |
| Born | Ahmad Nabil bin Ahmad 26 September 1983 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia |
| Nationality | Malaysian |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Employers |
|
| Spouse |
Nazirah Ayoub (m. 2011) |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editAhmad Nabil Ahmad was born on 26 September 1983, in Seremban, the capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.[1][2]
In 2008, Nabil was working as a motorcycle courier in the small town of Mambau, earning RM600 (about US$143) a month, when he was transferred to Kuala Lumpur for work. As a prank, the friend he was staying with signed him up for an audition for Raja Lawak (King of Comedy), a Malaysian television reality show that searches for comedic talent.[3] Nabil did not have access to satellite television at his previous home, so was not familiar with the show, but tried out anyway.[4]
Entertainment career
edit
After several weeks of competition, Nabil won the second season of Raja Lawak, which brought him to prominence as a comedian. Due to this victory he is sometimes known as "Nabil Raja Lawak".[1] As an actor, Nabil played roles in the comedy films Pisau Cukur (2009), and Berani Punya Budak (2012) as well as in the later dramas Geng Bas Sekolah (2013) and Bila Kau Datang (2015).[1]
From comedy, Nabil gradually transitioned to hosting television shows. He says that being a comedian involves a lot of pressure, being "expected to go up on stage and make people laugh immediately. ... with hosting I am much more relaxed, and everything feels less pressured.... But it allows me to still show my funny side by inserting jokes here and there."[3]
His first hosting position, which he still holds, was entertainment talk show MeleTOP, in 2012. This was joined by music competition Gegar Vaganza, in 2014, both aired on Astro Ria.[1][3] He was the original host of MeleTOP, along with female co-host Neelofa, and remained hosting the show when she left in 2019.[5] He says he has been told he is synonymous with MeleTOP.[2] He has also hosted episodes of the related annual entertainment awards show Anugerah MeleTOP Era.[6]
In 2015 Nabil became host of HBO Sentral, a monthly program showcasing HBO Asia programs, taking over from Lisa Surihani.[7] In 2016, Nabil became co-host of children's Islamic reality competition show, Ceria I-Star, on Astro Ceria, alongside Ustaz Yeop.[1] In 2017, HBO sent him to Hollywood to interview stars during the 89th Academy Awards.[3] In 2018, he was awarded the Best Entertainment Presenter/Host at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in Cannes, France.[3][8]
In 2017, Nabil began to look for business opportunities outside of personally entertaining, so as not to depend on that as a sole source of income. He set up an entertainment production company which has produced television series and a film.[9] In 2018, Nabil wrote his first made-for-television film, The Hantus, a Malaysian horror comedy film wherein he co-directed with Helmi Yusof, thus marking his directorial debut, which was released on June 15, 2018 under KMN Production.[10] Filming began mostly in Kuala Lumpur, Gombak and Genting Highlands.[11] In 2019 he added a YouTube channel called Lupk TV.[3]
Personal life
editIn 2011, Nabil married former AirAsia stewardess, Zira Ayoub.[1] As of 2020, they have three daughters.[12]
His entertainment success came with only limited financial security. During the 2020 Malaysia movement control order, he supported many friends from his hometown in Negeri Sembilan who had lost jobs so were worse off than he was,[13] and says he was quite grateful for the government moratorium on debts that he otherwise would not have been able to pay off, due to canceled activities and job offers.[14]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sifu & Tongga | Tongga | |
| Jin Notti | Pusher | ||
| Momok The Movie | Jefri | ||
| Pisau Cukur | Host/Erique | ||
| 2010 | Lu Pikirkan Sendiri de Movie | Nabil | |
| Kecoh Betul | Aiman | ||
| Magika | Orang Minyak | ||
| 2012 | Bujang Terlajak | Nabil | |
| Berani Punya Budak | Adik John | ||
| Uncle Usin | Uncle Usin | ||
| Cinta Beruang | Nabu | ||
| Untuk Tiga Hari | |||
| Pontianak vs Orang Minyak | Ponti | ||
| 2013 | Lawak Ke Der 2 | ||
| 2015 | Romeo Kota | Detective Fakhrul | |
| 2016 | Bo-Peng | Bo | |
| 2021 | Mat Bond Malaya | Nabil | Also as director, writer and producer |
| 2023 | Syaitan Munafik |
Television series
edit| Year | Title | Role | TV channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Nabil & Co. | Nabil | TV3 | |
| Sonata Labu Labi The Series | Labu | Astro Warna | ||
| 2010 | Kuih Goyang Syafiq | Syafiq | TV3 | |
| 2011 | You Saka... Pergi Jauh-Jauh | Adrus | ||
| 2012 | Oh My English! (Season 1) | Abang Nabil | Astro TVIQ | Episode: "Kelas 3 Merah Cungkil Bakat!" |
| 2013 | Geng Bas Sekolah | Astro Ceria | ||
| Mak Lang Datang Kompang Bergendang | Fitri | TV3 | ||
| Rumah Kedai | Roslan | |||
| Goyang Syafiq... Jom Pi Cuti | Syafiq | |||
| 2014 | Cakap Melayulah | Daud | Astro Warna | |
| 2017 | Bas Stop | Also as producer |
Telemovie
edit| Year | Title | Role | TV channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sonata Labu Labi | Labu | Astro Prima | |
| Kuih Goyang Seha | Syafiq | TV3 | ||
| 2012 | Asmara Pontianak K-POP | Ejal | ||
| 2013 | Kain, Jarum & Gunting | Fauzi | Astro Warna | |
| 2014 | Nangnok | Ali | Astro Ria | |
| Strawberi Karipap Sesat Kat Paris | Uncle Faris | Astro First Exclusive | ||
| 2015 | Bila Kau Datang | Arman | Astro Ria | |
| 2018 | The Hantus | — | Astro First Exclusive | Also as director |
| 2019 | “Dato” S | — | ||
| Gostan | — |
Theater
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Lawak Ke Der |
Radiography
editRadio
edit| Year | Title | Station |
|---|---|---|
| 5 January – 29 November 2012 | Breakfast@Suria | Suria |
| February 2013 – present | Carta Era 40, Era D'Boyz, Rancak Sabtu Era & 3 Pagi Era | Era |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Mokhtazar, Syahirah (13 October 2016). "Funny faith: Nabil Raja Lawak returns as host of new Islamic reality show, Ceria I-Star". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ a b Chua, Dennis (22 May 2018). "#Showbiz: Leave MeleTop? No way, says host Nabil Ahmad". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Nabil Ahmad, Mr. Funnyman". SalamWebToday. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ Yeoh, Angelin (13 August 2014). "From 'Raja Lawak' to 'Uncle Grandpa', Nabil Ahmad is a stand-up guy". The Star. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ Alhamzah, Tahir (4 December 2019). "#Showbiz: 'I have to let go of one in order to acquire another' – Neelofa bids adieu to MeleTOP". New Straits Times. Retrieved 16 October 2020. Also available as Alhamzah, Tahir. "#Showbiz: 'I have to let go of one in order to acquire another' – Neelofa bids adieu to MeleTOP". MSN. No. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ Chalil, Melanie (4 March 2020). "Astro awards show Anugerah Meletop Era to be first Malaysian live show broadcast in 4K UHD". Malay Mail. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Nabil Ahmad is the new host of HBO Sentral". The Star. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Nabil awarded 'best host in Asia'". The Star. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ Alhamzah, Tahir (4 October 2018). "#Showbiz: Nabil Ahmad to quit showbiz?". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ Syahirah Mokhtazar (29 June 2018). "#Showbiz: Nabil's challenges in producing his first telemovie". New Straits Times. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
- ^ Angelin Yeoh (26 June 2018). "In Nabil Ahmad's The Hantus, the ghosts just have fun". The Star Online. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
- ^ Mohamad, Zaidi (7 October 2020). "Nabil negatif ujian COVID-19". Berita Harian. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Comedian serious about helping jobless friends". The Star. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ Chua, Dennis (19 August 2020). "#Showbiz: Nabil thankful MCO moratorium 'saved' him from rising debts". MSN. Retrieved 2 November 2020. Also available as Chua, Dennis (19 August 2020). "#Showbiz: Nabil thankful MCO moratorium 'saved' him from rising debts". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
External links
edit- Nabil Ahmad at IMDb
