The 60-year-old, real name Shamsuddin Maidin, has been acting for over two decades. He was also known for his “Gerak Khas” lemang, which he used to make and sell during Hari Raya each year until the pandemic hit.

The grandfather of three is now back with his special lemang: he and three friends have come together to run a stall in Taman Putra Ampang near here. They will remain in business until the end of Syawal.

“My decision to offer lemang this Raya was a spontaneous one; I’ve not been selling it for several years,” he told Bernama, explaining that since the pandemic, he has been focusing on his job as a building supervisor, as well as his acting.

“Age was also a factor that led me to take a break from the business,” he added.

Deen said he was encouraged by his friends and fans on social media to restart his lemang business.

Although he initially lacked expertise in cooking the traditional dish of glutinous rice and coconut milk, he received guidance from a friend known as Babe, who helped him master the art of preparing the delicacy.

Deen further revealed that since his lemang carries the name “Gerak Khas”, it was first sent to series director Yusof Haslam for taste testing and feedback before being sold.

“I will always remember Datuk’s advice: if you want to sell something, make sure it’s the best. The ‘Gerak Khas’ name is significant, so I want people to enjoy something delicious and satisfying,” Deen noted.

Besides lemang, which is priced from RM16 to RM22 each, Deen’s stall also offers chicken and beef rendang at RM12 for 200g, as well as serunding at RM10 for 150g.

As for his acting career, Deen said he continues to receive numerous acting offers and will remain active in the entertainment industry as long as his talents are still in demand.