SINGER and actress Atilia Haron has found love again, and calls on fans and friends to "pray for the best".
"Seeing my first marriage flounder does not mean that love won't come knocking on my door again. It finally has and I hope for the best," said Atilia in a recent interview.
The daughter of legendary evergreen singer Salamiah Hassan admitted that the "new man" in her life was also a person from the creative industry.
"Yes, he and I both love music and movies. However, he is not a singer and neither is he an actor, he is a film producer and director, Shimy Latif," said Atilia.
"We have been together for the past two years and I am very happy that we are on the same wavelength, sharing a lot of things in common. Mum is very happy for me, too."
Atilia, whose full name is Raja Putri Atilia Raja Haron said she was "never in a hurry" to find love again after the end of her first marriage.
"Love takes its time, so I patiently waited for years, meeting many friends new and old along the way, until that moment finally arrived in 2022."
Atilia, 50, is in no hurry to remarry, for she and Shimy are "still getting to know each other better".
"My main focus is still my career, as a singer, actress, producer and director. Entertainment will always be my first love, together with my loved ones," she said.
"For now, my focus is my work, I work hard as always to earn money and make myself and my mother happy."
She said her responsibility was to take care of her mother, especially after Salamiah lost her second husband, Gerry Hughes, in 2022.
When asked about her newest projects, Atilia said that she would be involved in a theatre production called 'Najis Jadi Teman', which is produced by national sewerage company Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK).
The play is directed by former 8TV Quickie host and 'Tanda Putera' star Razif Hashim.
"It is a very interesting story about the sacrifices of the unsung heroes of the nation, in particular the staff members of IWK. They have an unrewarding job but a very noble one — recycling the country's waste for the wellbeing of all," she said.
"I've not been involved in theatre or musical theatre for sometime, so it is great to star in a play that is patriotic and out-of-the-ordinary."
Atilia said the biggest challenge she faced when starring in a play was memorising the script.
"In theatre, you cannot make mistakes. You must pronounce all your words perfectly, no ad-libbing is allowed!"
Atilia and her former husband Adam Sofian were divorced four years ago. However, they remained good friends ever since.
