KUALA LUMPUR: Actor Alif Hadi, 36, recently revealed that he was previously married to a woman from a well-known political family.
The marriage, which took place in his 20s, lasted seven years before ending in divorce.
Until now, Alif, whose full name is Muhammad Alif Abdul Hadi, had kept this chapter of his life private to protect his ex-wife's family.
"My ex-wife comes from a prominent political family, and sometimes private matters like these can become fodder for political issues," he shared during an interview on the podcast Confession Bilik Gelap, available on YouTube.
"I didn't want to risk any complications or have people gossiping, so I decided to keep this part of my life personal."
Reflecting on his early marriage, Alif admitted that marrying young came with unique challenges.
Just out of university at the time, he hadn't yet grasped the complexities of building a lifelong relationship.
"We were together for a year, then engaged for two years, and then spent seven years trying to make the marriage work.
"I tried to be there for my ex-wife and her family, but in the end, I lost myself," he explained.
"It took me time to realise that I was prioritising others to the point of neglecting my own well-being."
The experience, he said, has become a valuable guide for any future relationships.
"That first marriage taught me to choose my partner wisely. I want to see the person's true character – both good and bad.
"If the negatives outweigh the positives, I'll reconsider. Love shouldn't make us ignore red flags," Alif advised.
Alif also confirmed that his recent relationship with actress Yasmin Hani ended about three months ago.