Dion Wiyoko returns to the action genre with “Ratu Malaka,” a physically demanding epic years in the making. In an exclusive Louis Vuitton cover shoot, the actor opens up about perseverance, purpose and the journey behind the spotlight
Some actors spend their careers playing it safe—and there is nothing wrong with that. But on set today, standing beneath the lights of a Louis Vuitton cover shoot, Dion Wiyoko carries the quiet composure of someone who has never been particularly interested in the easy road.
After nearly 15 years away from the action genre, the Indonesian actor returns with “Ratu Malaka,” an ambitious sword-wielding epic that demanded six months of grueling workshops and a level of physical commitment many would quietly decline. For Wiyoko, however, the challenge was precisely the point.
Sitting across from him, there is no trace of exhaustion—only the calm confidence of someone who chose the harder path and meant every step of it. Beyond the film, Wiyoko speaks with the same measured honesty about awards, the fractures within the industry and the role that left a lasting imprint on his personal life. If anything, Dion Wiyoko is an actor who has learned to measure his own worth well beyond the noise. And right now, he feels like someone who is only just getting started.
DAMAN: You’ve just wrapped filming “Ratu Malaka.” When your first saw the script, how did you react?
Dion Wiyoko: I just wrapped shooting an action film again called “Ratu Malaka” last month. It’s been almost 15 years—my last action movie was back in 2009. The whole process for “Ratu Malaka” took about six months, from workshops starting in September through our wrap in mid-February.
When they first offered it to me, I was only given a brief synopsis and a mood board. I thought, “This looks interesting.” Then I met the producer, Kori Adyaning, and the director, Angga Dwimas Sasongko. Angga told me the story of how this project was born—an idea sparked back in 2017 while he was traveling around Morocco, which eventually led him to meet our stunt coordinator, the legendary Chan Man-ching, at the Cannes Film Festival. Listening to his vision, seeing the team they assembled and looking at the cast, I was instantly sold.
My character, Alim, uses a sword that feels quite sacred—not exactly a katana but something similar. I had never done anything like that before. I knew this would be a demanding project but I wanted to challenge myself. I committed right then and there.
DA: Without revealing too much, what can you tell us about your character, Alim, and his place in the world of Malaka?
DW: The universe of “Ratu Malaka” is entirely its own. The story centers on Ratu Malaka, a ruler who will do anything to maintain her power. She has four adopted children who serve as the guardians of that power. I play Alim, the eldest. The others are Bilal (Ganindra Bimo), Layla (Lutesha) and the youngest, Khalid (Faris Fadjar).
These four are fiercely loyal to her but the central conflict arises when a massive threat to their world appears. As for Alim, he is a true believer—someone wholly devoted to the destiny he believes he must fulfill.
DA: The film also brought in Chan Man-ching—the legend behind Jackie Chan’s “Rush Hour” stunts—alongside pencak silat champion Reza Hilman. Tell us about the physicality of this film…
DW: I went in with zero expectations, especially when it came to mastering the sword. But the team was incredible. When you look at Chan Man-ching’s résumé, you immediately understand his level of professionalism. For him, “safety first” is an absolute rule—there’s no negotiating or making excuses. He constantly motivated us, emphasizing that the more we practiced, the lower the physical risks became.
We trained from day one. Reza Hilman guided our choreography. Alim is highly skilled with his sword and Reza patiently taught me from scratch—finding the right posture, building flexibility and learning complex sequences. To give you an idea of the scale, our final scene took nine days to shoot. Nine days for one sequence. But thanks to the rigorous workshops and the collaboration between Reza, Chan Man-ching and the whole cast, we pulled it off.
DA: As an actor, how do you approach performing within a fictional world with its own myths and rules like this one?
DW: During the initial workshops, we were definitely feeling around in the dark. We probably only understood about 30 percent of Ratu Malaka’s world just from reading the script and practicing choreography. But when we stepped onto the set on day one, it suddenly escalated beyond 100 percent.
Seeing what the art and lighting departments had built was mind-blowing. Angga’s imagination was suddenly right in front of us. Stepping into those practical sets helped us immerse ourselves completely in our characters. We also had constant discussions with Angga about tone—whether the world should feel purely surreal or grounded in real-world logic. Having the creator there to bounce ideas off was exactly what we needed to bring the fiction to life.
DA: You’ve received three prestigious FFI nominations as an actor. After three nominations without a win, how do you navigate the space between external validation and your own sense of a job well done?
DW: I don’t know if it’s just me, but awards in Indonesian cinema have their own experiences and prestige values. Personally, though, I don’t use them as the ultimate benchmark for an actor’s worth, as the judging can be very subjective.
Sometimes you look at a category you’re not even in and think, “Wait, that feels a bit off.” But to answer your question honestly—yes, after three nominations without a win, there is inevitably a brief moment when you think, “Why wasn’t it me?”
But I’ve never considered it a failure. To me, it’s a massive compliment. Being nominated means my work was recognized and appreciated by the industry and that is huge.
Winning doesn’t magically guarantee that your fee doubles overnight nor does it secure the best scripts for the next year. It’s a bonus. If I win, I’m grateful. If I don’t, that’s completely fine. The nomination itself is already a beautiful validation.
DA: The Indonesian film industry has been gaining incredible momentum in recent years. As someone working within it, what excites you the most about what the future holds for Indonesian cinema?
DW: When it comes to audience numbers, it’s truly extraordinary right now. But as many filmmakers have discussed, while the sheer volume of moviegoers in 2025 was staggering, the gap is also massive.
You have films like “Jumbo” and “Agak Laen 2” pulling in 20 million viewers but there are also hundreds of Indonesian films that struggle to reach even 500,000.
In my humble opinion, the ecosystem—the supporting elements of our industry—isn’t yet fully nurturing a healthy environment. Sometimes it feels like Indonesian films are cannibalizing each other. We used to compete against Hollywood blockbusters. Now we’re competing against ourselves, fighting for the same audience.
It’s heartbreaking when a genuinely good film flops because of this. As filmmakers, it’s our homework to help heal this industry. We need to build awareness that great films are coming out every week—not just horror but a wide variety of genres. Hopefully with wider distribution and more cinemas, success can eventually be shared more evenly.
DA: Today’s photoshoot is a special one thanks to Louis Vuitton. On that note, how would you describe your personal style philosophy? And how do you think does that align with a heritage house like Louis Vuitton?
DW: I’m very low-key. I don’t like to be flashy or overly styled. For me, comfort is always the number one priority. Because of that, I’m pretty consistent with my color palettes and silhouettes. If I find a style I love, I’ll buy it in a few different colors.
Interestingly, I really loved the styling for today’s shoot. I was wearing these army cargo pants and when I first looked in the mirror, I thought, “Whoa, this is a bit flashy.” But on camera, it looked incredible. I surprised myself.
I’ve also worked with Louis Vuitton for quite a while now and I deeply respect the brand. The DNA that has existed from the beginning—through Virgil’s menswear era and now with Pharrell—has remained intact. If anything, it’s been elevated. Modern, edgy, stylish but always unmistakably Louis Vuitton. The quality and identity are always there.
DA: Is there a Louis Vuitton item that holds a special meaning for you?
DW: Absolutely. I have a pair of Louis Vuitton loafers that I wore on my wedding day. They are incredibly meaningful to me and I still keep them perfectly preserved so I can always look back at them.
I also have a pair of the very first edition LV Trainer sneakers by Virgil. I’m incredibly proud of that collection. I wear them occasionally but mostly I treat them like a treasure.
DA: Looking back at your journey—from your earliest roles up until today—what advice would you give your younger self on his very first day on set?
DW: It’s been exactly 20 years now. Twenty years is not a short time.
Looking back, I remember the despair, the anger and the bitterness. I remember going to castings for two years straight without ever getting a callback. There was disappointment, self-doubt and moments when I felt resentful of others. It was an ugly and uncomfortable feeling.
But I pushed through all of that. Step by step, I moved up the ladder. The fact that I can sit here today doing this interview and sharing my story is a massive privilege.
For anyone out there feeling frustrated with their life’s journey, you have to go through the process. No matter how heavy it feels, if you fall down and keep choosing to get back up, there is no such thing as failure.
If I could whisper to the 2006 version of myself, I would simply say: “Be patient. Your time will come. The struggle will never betray the outcome. Hard work never betrays the result.”
Creative Direction Brad Homes
Photography Zaky Akbar
Styling Try Sutrisno
Makeup Claudya Christiani and team
Hair Budipujilistian
Styling Assistance Gabriela Natasha and Raissa Ulimaz
Location Park Hyatt Jakarta Jl. Kebon Sirih No.17-19, Menteng, Jakarta, 10340 +62 21 31111234
All clothing and accessories by Louis Vuitton