Nia Atasha and Scha Alyahya Rewrites Romance With “Kata Hati”
Fashion · 9 June 2026
Nia Atasha and Scha Alyahya dismantle every rule, foundation and theory about love with “Kata Hati”.
- Words
- Syameen Salehaldin
Nia Atasha and Scha Alyahya have not been idle; for years, they’ve continued to cement themselves as forces of nature who can do it all. For Nia, finding her sanctuary in acting has been an ongoing journey. She has lived many lives, both within and beyond acting—and she shows no signs of slowing down with fresh sounds on the horizon. She has cemented herself as a passionate multi-hyphenate who lives to create, defy expectations, push boundaries, and inspire through her work and craft; she’s now between modelling and debuting her first leading role in Nadiah Hamzah’s romantic comedy film, Kata Hati—the world is her oyster. Scha Alyahya, on the other hand, has been gracing our screens for years and paving her way in the industry, earning respect and admiration for her notable work. The fiercely talented actress has always carried the introspection and candour of a soul beyond her years—someone who commands attention when she enters a room. Together, they sat down for a soulful conversation about Kata Hati, the dedication to the craft and their take on love—and things got unapologetically real.
Kata Hati follows a rising actress—played by Nia Atasha—whose picture-perfect life cracks open the moment she catches her boyfriend—and co-star—doing things she can never unsee. Heartbroken and reeling, she collides with an e-hailing driver she was never supposed to meet, and suddenly everything she thought she had figured out is beautifully, terribly undone. What follows is drama, yearning and the kind of chaos that feels suspiciously like fate. “I feel that Ayra and I have a lot in common. We’re both trying to find our space in the industry, and there’s so much internal conflict between the heart and the mind—what’s right, what’s wrong and what I want versus what I need to do for myself,” said Nia. And sitting right across from her is someone who understands that feeling more than she’d ever need to say. Over the years, Scha has always demonstrated her powerful ability to deliver nuanced and driven performances, so as you would expect, we wanted to know—what did it feel like watching Nia step into the spotlight she once claimed for herself? “Watching Nia was very refreshing. She reminded me of how nervous and excited I was when I first started. Naturally, I became supportive of her. I’m very proud of her,” Scha reminisced.
The combination of their work and craft has left audiences delightedly slack-jawed. Their characters are far from perfect, but the execution of Ayra Natasha and Maya was portrayed with such honesty and emotional depth—the kind that doesn’t come from technique alone. It comes from feeling things fully and meaning it. Which makes sense, because Nia is exactly that kind of person. “Love means everything to me because I’m just naturally a romantic,” she says, leaning back in her chair and smiling affectionately, and you believe her instantly. “When you’re in a relationship, or you’re on a journey with somebody, it’s really about learning and accepting,” she continued. It’s a quietly profound thing to say, and it tells you everything about why Ayra feels so real on screen. Nia doesn’t just play a woman navigating love—she understands it. She thinks deeply, feels deeply, and when she steps into a role, she brings all of that with her, unfiltered.
Scha, it seems, was searching for that same kind of philosophy when she said yes to Maya. “Maya—on the outside—she seems quite strong, but I know that deep down she’s struggling with emotions, pressure and love. I feel women out there can relate to her, which is why I got drawn to the character,” she said. And Scha has cultivated a delivery and physicality that is entirely her own—a perfect one to add. She treaded a very thin tightrope between gut-wretching, love and laughs.
Romance films have spent decades building a perfect formula for love—moonlit walks on the beach, perfectly timed confessions in the rain and a boombox serenade. But then there are stories like Kata Hati, which take all of that and ask a different question: what if love is just someone who keeps showing up? Nia Atasha and Scha Alyahya understand that distinction better than most. So, we had to ask: was there a line of dialogue in the film that really stuck with you—one that felt bigger than just the script? “There’s a scene in the film where we talk about how love is not enough to save someone,” Scha pondered. “It’s true. Because in real life, you really wish that love could fix everything, and life is more complicated than that.” Nia nodded, then lit up with her own. “For me—in my brain—it is ‘Tapi you luar biasa untuk I, Imran’”, which translates to “But you are extraordinary for me, Imran”.
And maybe that’s what Kata Hati has always been about—not the grand gestures or the perfectly scripted confessions. Because at its core, this film isn’t really about following the rules of love. It’s about what happens when you finally stop overthinking and listen. Nia and Scha understood that assignment before the cameras even rolled. Nia and Scha didn’t just bring two characters to life. They brought two women who feel things deeply, love imperfectly, and refuse to pretend otherwise.
And we can’t wait to see the shapes of their futures because you get the impression they will continue to navigate their way to the top beautifully, maintaining a curiosity and enthusiasm for acting and life long after this film.
Nia Atasha and Scha Alyahya are dressed in the Dior Fall 2026 collection.
