Kuala Lampur, Aug. 29 -- She also had to cross linguistic and cultural boundaries.

The acclaimed actress plays Siti, a woman from Pahang, in the film set in Malaya in 1948, during the turbulent period following World War II and at the onset of the Malayan Emergency.

One of her biggest challenges was mastering the Pahang Malay dialect while capturing the essence of a Malaysian woman from that period.

Speaking to Malay Mail, Asmara said she wanted to approach the role with respect, particularly as an Indonesian portraying a Malaysian character.

She also viewed the borders separating Southeast Asian countries as a legacy of colonialism.

"I want to give justice to the character, not only as an Indonesian playing a Malaysian character, bu...