At just 23, Nur Aaliyah Natasha Farouk is learning to live with tension, on screen and off. In Generasi: Perfect 10, the latest Astro Originals series, she steps into the role of Yasmin Safira, a quiet, emotionally guarded gymnast who finds her escape on the balance beam. It is her most demanding role yet, and one that feels closer to home than she expected.
A graduate of the Diploma in Mass Communication at INTI International College Subang (Class of 2023), Aaliyah, known professionally as Aaliyah Natasha, has been steadily building her place in Malaysia’s entertainment industry. Her casting in Generasi: Perfect 10 marked a turning point, but the path there began with curiosity sparked by another Astro Originals production, Project: High Council.
Aaliyah Natasha, a graduate of the Diploma in Mass Communication at INTI International College Subang (Class of 2023), stars as Yasmin Safira in Astro Originals’ Generasi: Perfect 10. (Photo taken from Instagram.
“I remember watching Project: High Council and thinking about how powerful that storytelling was,” she said. “I kept wondering what a similar story would look like if it centred on young women.” When auditions for Generasi: Perfect 10 opened, she saw an opportunity to explore that perspective and took it.
The series follows Ezrina, played by Arena Wan, a determined gymnast whose school club is abruptly shut down, forcing her to transfer to the elite Akademi Sukan Permai. There, she encounters intense competition, emotional rivalries, and the relentless pressures of high-performance sport. Beyond medals and rankings, the story explores identity, resilience, and the emotional toll that young girls often carry as they chase perfection.
Yasmin Safira exists on the edges of that world. Temperamental, withdrawn, and frequently misunderstood, she is judged for her appearance and her age. Gymnastics, particularly the balance beam, becomes her refuge. On it, risk turns into clarity, and the noise around her fades.
“The storyline really spoke to me,” Aaliyah said. “It explores the struggles, rivalries, and friendships of girlhood, all within a high-pressure environment. I’m drawn to stories that reflect women’s experiences honestly, especially the mental pressure and expectations that come with them.”
Yasmin Safira, the character portrayed by Aaliyah Natasha, finds solace and control on the balance beam amid the pressures of elite gymnastics.
To portray Yasmin’s guarded exterior and hidden vulnerability, she leaned into something deeply personal. “We share a belief, harapan boleh membunuh, hope can kill,” she said. “I’ve had my fair share of rejection, so I’ve learned not to hold expectations too tightly. That overlap helped me understand her.”
The role demanded more than emotional depth. Filming took place at Bukit Jalil’s MSN Stadium, where Aaliyah, who is not a trained gymnast and admits to a fear of heights, had to perform beam sequences. To stay in character, she also practised elements of method acting, sometimes isolating herself before shoots to tap into Yasmin’s loneliness.
“Those moments helped me understand her better,” she said. “She builds walls to protect herself, but underneath, she’s incredibly vulnerable.”
(Left to right) Aaliyah Natasha with showrunner and INTI alumna Nas Addina, moderator Mohd Khairul Irwan Mansor, Head of Programme and Senior Lecturer at the School of Business and Communication, director Sling Ng, and cast members Arena Wan and Daniel Fong during the Generasi: Perfect 10 Sharing Session at the Tan Yew Sing Auditorium, INTI International College Subang.
Long before stepping onto set, her foundation was shaped during her time at INTI. As a film major, she gained an appreciation for the technical side of production and the collaborative nature of working on set, lessons that stayed with her. “INTI sharpened my communication skills and taught me to respect the work happening behind the camera,” she said. “I’ve been on both sides, so I know how much effort it takes to bring a story to life.”
There was another unexpected connection behind the scenes. The showrunner for Generasi: Perfect 10, Nas Addina, is also an INTI alumna. Discovering their shared background created an instant sense of familiarity during auditions, a reminder of how interconnected the creative industry can be.
Cast, crew, and students gathered at INTI International College Subang for the Generasi: Perfect 10 Sharing Session, which offered insights into television production and the creative industry.
That sense of coming full circle became tangible on 11 September 2025, when Aaliyah returned to campus alongside Nas Addina for the Generasi: Perfect 10 Sharing Session at the Tan Yew Sing Auditorium, INTI International College Subang. Organised by the School of Business and Communication in collaboration with Astro, the session offered students an inside look into the realities of television production.
Standing on stage, no longer as a student but as a working actor, the moment felt surreal. “Honestly, I felt overwhelmed, but proud,” she said. “Coming back to share my experience with students who were once in my place is something I’ll always remember.”
Aaliyah hopes the series resonates with young Malaysians navigating similar pressures. “I want people to see that medals or achievements don’t define your value,” she added. “Mental health matters just as much. Resilience, friendship, and having the right support system are what really carry you through.”