“So, is it my fault? My friends’ fault? Then whose fault is it, Rangga?”
These unforgettable lines – delivered in a fiery tirade by the character played by Dian Satsrowardoyo – are deeply etched in the hearts of Indonesians ever since the well-loved film Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? graced screens in 2002.
Cinta, a role she carried with a charisma that marked her for stardom, and made her an instant household name, forever intertwining her with the resurgence of its film industry.
The film, anchored by sparkling performances by Dian and her co-star Nicholas Saputra, amassed a devoted cult following.
And it redefined an entire generation’s view on romance, youth, and the possibilities and impact of Indonesian cinema.
Dian didn’t just ride the wave of stardom; she made herself a powerful force for social change beyond the silver screen too, using her platform to transform the lives of others.
Now 42, she’s not only known for her legendary roles but also for her heartfelt commitment to creating positive social impact. Dian’s proven herself to be an advocate for change, using her massive reach for good.
The multi-talented powerhouse has carved out a legacy of philanthropy, empowerment and education.
Through the Dian Sastrowardoyo Foundation, which she founded in 2009, she champions initiatives in education, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability
Her deep sense of gratitude for her career inspired the Jakarta-born actress to set up her own non-profit to give back to the community. She knows the privileges and opportunities that have come with her profession – and she knows her stardom has given her a greater platform to help others.
So she sees it as her duty to give back – channeling her success into something far more meaningful than personal achievement alone.
“I believe Indonesia faces numerous challenges – inequality, poverty, extremism, hunger, and disparities in education, among many others. But our capacity to address them is also limited. I want to contribute in a meaningful way".
“I’ve thought long and hard about this, and I realise that continuous learning and academic growth are essential for me to make a lasting impact,” Dian tells MillionaireAsia.
For the ‘young Dians’ out there
The Dian Sastrowardoyo Foundation was also born out of a deeply personal reason – rooted in Dian’s own childhood dreams of studying abroad.
Her life took a complete turn and her dreams took a backseat when she lost her father at the age of 13. Her family was not well off, and, in the blink of an eye, her mother was now left the sole breadwinner.
To support her mother and pursue her dreams, Dian, an only child, decided to enter the entertainment industry at just 14 years old.
First came some modelling gigs. Then, she gained national recognition in 1996 after she won Gadis Sampul, an annual teen modelling competition held by Indonesian magazine Gadis which has a been a launching pad that has helped many Indonesian celebrities break into the entertainment and fashion industries.
After that came commercials and music videos, before, eventually, with her talent and tenacity, Dian broke into the film industry at 19, making her film debut in 2000 with Bintang Jatuh.
She turned the tragedy of losing her father into a spark, and used it to ignite her ambition. She challenged herself to dream big, pledging to work hard so she could support her family and eventually study overseas without burdening them.
Dian’s career in the entertainment industry eventually took off – flourishing so well that she held off on her dreams of studying overseas to commit herself to her work.
This unachieved goal became a driving force behind the establishment of the Dian Sastrowardoyo Foundation.
“I founded this foundation to support more ‘young Dians’ out there,” Dian explains.
“I want to help children – especially young girls – who dream of pursuing higher education, whether abroad or in major cities, but lack financial means or opportunities. That’s why I made a promise: no matter how much I earn from my work, a portion will always be set aside to help these young dreamers turn their aspirations into reality.”
Her personal journey, along with her deep passion for film, art, culture, women empowerment, and education, became the guiding pillars of the Dian Sastrowardoyo Foundation.
Expanding horizons
Fast forward to today, and the Dian Sastrowardoyo Foundation has grown by leaps and bounds.
It started with a book donation initiative, encouraging people to donate books they no longer read, and then sending these books to remote areas around Indonesia.
It sounds simple – but what a difference it made.
“We have friends in remote areas like Flores and Sumba, so we ‘re truly providing access,” Dian says. “And what started as a simple book donation initiative eventually grew into the creation of community libraries.”
Books were just the start.
By 2013, Dian realised that book donations alone were not enough. It was time to take a bigger step: providing scholarships for children in need.
She strongly believes in the power of education to transform lives. Scholarships would give youths the key to their future and to unlock their true potential – offering them the opportunity to pursue higher learning and, ultimately, access better networks and better career prospects.
And the results speak for themselves.
Dian fondly recalls the first time she met one of her scholarship recipients, the child of a humble nasi kucing vendor from a rural village in Indonesia. Nasi kucing refers to a Javanese street food dish consisting of a small portion of rice served with side dishes like sambal, fried tempeh, or dried fish, wrapped in a banana leaf or paper.
After the foundation’s scholarship gave her a shot at higher education, this recipient’s life transformed completely.
She’s since built a successful career as a lawyer.
“We’re essentially expanding their mindset,” Dian said. “For instance, this student once aspired to become a teacher or a village head because, in her world, those were the wealthiest and most successful figures. Her horizon was so limited simply because her exposure to the world was minimal.”
“But with access to higher education, her perspective broadened – opening doors to opportunities she had never imagined,” she says.
Bringing Kartini to life
When Dian Sastrowardoyo stepped into the shoes of Raden Ajeng Kartini on-screen, it wasn’t just a role – it was a turning point in her life.
The fight for women’s rights and education wasn’t just something she was portraying on screen in the 2017 film Kartini. It was a mission she felt deeply connected to, sparking a passion that would fuel her efforts to empower children across Indonesia.
Raden Ajeng Kartini, born in 1879, was a trailblazer – an Indonesian feminist and national hero who stood up against the societal norms that kept women from receiving an education during the Dutch colonial era.
She was born into an aristocratic Javanese family, but she never once let that keep her from challenging the system.
Kartini’s letters – later compiled into the book Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang (Out of Darkness Comes Light) – revealed her progressive ideas on gender equality and the importance of education for women.
Her words still echo today, inspiring generations of women in Indonesia to demand change and fight for their right to learn, and making her an enduring symbol of progress and reform.
For Dian, portraying Kartini wasn’t just about delivering lines – it was about living the story.
During filming, she dove deep into Kartini’s letters, exploring the young woman’s journey from a life of seclusion to one of defiance and empowerment. She meticulously studied Kartini’s life and motivations closely, and this immersion offered Dian a fresh perspective and deeper sense of purpose.
To Dian, Kartini was a driving force behind Indonesia’s youth movement. She notably sacrificed her scholarship to the Netherlands, passing it instead to Agus Salim – who later became one of the key figures in Budi Utomo, Indonesia’s first nationalist organisation.
“Kartini had many defining moments,” Dian reflects.
“She was undeniably brilliant. Exceptionally intelligent. And surely, there were many others in Indonesia just as bright as she was. But why is she the one remembered? Because she diligently documented her thoughts through letters. That, in itself, is a powerful reflection.”
Kartini’s resilience and passion became a source of inspiration for Dian, driving her to find ways to help more Indonesian children get access to higher education, no matter their background.
Coding for change
Between 2015 and 2019, the Dian Sastrowardoyo Foundation’s focus was on running their scholarship programme to help talented students gain access to higher education.
But the costs were hefty and the reach – with five to seven students benefiting a year – limited. Providing full scholarships meant the funding required was substantial: not only were there tuition fees to cover, there were also living expenses, accommodations, meals, books – and the list goes on.
The foundation wanted to ensure students had all their needs tended to, and felt no financial burdens while they were attending university. And the scholarship programme even included coaching sessions in collaboration with non-profit organisation Hoshizora Foundation to monitor the progress of scholarship recipients.
But the funding for these scholarships relied heavily on Dian’s earnings as an actress – a model she acknowledged was unsustainable in the long run.
“So, whether or not the foundation could fund students’ education depended entirely on the ups and downs of my career. The challenge is, I’m not LPDP” says Dian, referring to Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan, the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education, a government-funded scholarship programme managed by the Ministry of Finance.
“They have an endowment fund. I don’t yet have a system where I can set aside such a large amount of money. We can’t rely on investment returns alone – we’re not at that scale yet. And I’m not a big corporation. No matter how successful I am as an actress, there’s only so much I can do.”
The foundation needed a new direction, and Dian – always one to adapt – saw the potential in the shifting educational landscape.
Since the pandemic, she’s observed how online education has made learning more accessible, and created new opportunities for informal education.
And so the foundation made a bold move: adding one more programme called Perempuan Inovasi (Women Innovation), a move aimed at helping prepare young women for digital economy.
Recognising that women remain underrepresented in tech, Dian Sastrowardoyo Foundation partnered with Markoding and Magnifique Public Relation to launch Perempuan Inovasi, a programme that provides free coding education to thousands of Indonesian women annually.
This programme equips participants with skills in UI/UX design, app development, and programming, creating pathways into high-demand digital careers.
“There are so many smart, capable women out there, but they lack access,” Dian says. “Through digital education, we can change that.”
It proved to be a game-changer. What began with just a few hundred participants has grown exponentially, now attracting thousands each year.
In its last run, the programme saw nearly 14,000 applicants – women who recognise and are eager to equip themselves with skills that will give them a leg up in this digital age.
In its first batch alone, nearly 20,000 applicants signed up, followed by 14,000 in the second. The Dian Sastrowardoyo Foundation has been able to reach a vast pool of participants, thanks to the support of the Indonesian government. The Directorate General of Vocational Education under the Ministry of Education has played a key role in expanding the programme’s reach through its official channels.
The programme makes it as easy and barrier-free as it can for them.
“We provide informal education – coding lessons that can be accessed from a mobile phone or any device. As long as there’s an internet connection, anyone from any region can participate, no diploma required. Sometimes, even stay-at-home mothers who are eager to learn join the programme and start coding,” says Dian.
“From there, we shortlist thousands of participants who receive basic coding education. Those who excel and show promise are then given the opportunity to advance to more specialised training.”
Students who complete the eight-month programme later collaborate in teams to develop UI/UX designs and applications, some of which are later showcased in a competition to select three winners.
This showcase is organised in partnership with the Directorate General of Vocational Education under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, and even invites ministers and representatives from the National Research and Innovation Agency as judges.
The programme is committed to empowering women – particularly stay-at-home mothers who often have limited mobility due to household responsibilities.
And its popularity and success showcase the transformative power of informal education, and proves that how technology can create equal opportunities for everyone.
It’s giving women who have long been left behind in the tech space the opportunity to gain skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
This is what Dian does best: breaking barriers. Whether it’s through her foundation or her own work in film, she is determined to open doors where there were none before.
Challenges in Eastern Indonesia
Though Dian’s foundation has been making headway in making education more accessible for those in need, it hasn’t been without challenges. Reaching children in remote areas like Eastern Indonesia, where access to education is still limited, remains a significant hurdle.
The road to supporting children in this region isn’t a walk in the park. It’s a rugged, winding trail that requires determination, creativity, and, most importantly, collaboration with local partners local heroes.
Eastern Indonesia is characterised by its remote and hard-to-reach locations, including isolated islands, border regions, and mountainous areas.
Many of these places are situated far from urban centres and often lack adequate transportation infrastructure. This limited accessibility poses a major challenge in delivering quality education to the region.
This impacts student participation in education, contributing to a growing educational gap between Eastern Indonesia and other regions.
On top of geographical barriers, the region faces significant socio-economic challenges, including poverty, a lack of formal employment opportunities, and insufficient basic infrastructure.
All of these directly impact the quality of education in Eastern Indonesia. A shortage of qualified educators, limited educational facilities, and low student motivation all present major obstacles to providing quality education in the region.
Dian notes that the reach of her foundation is still relatively small and can’t be compared to NGOs that specialise in aiding communities in remote, underdeveloped areas.
While the foundation does try its best to offer assistance for children in the often-overlooked region of Eastern Indonesia, it still heavily relies on the involvement of local heroes within these communities.
"Without them, we wouldn’t know anyone. We wouldn’t know who to reach out to, who needs help the most, or whether our support is truly making a meaningful impact," says Dian.
"For instance, if there is one bright and dedicated student, we focus on supporting just that one child to continue their education – whether through senior high school or even university. That’s the scale we are working with for now.”
Some of the difficulties trying to offer help in the region include assessing on-the-ground conditions and the heavy reliance on local heroes who serve as the foundation’s partners.
Limited infrastructure, particularly restricted internet access, also poses a significant hurdle. In many cases, children must gather in a specific town or at someone’s home just to secure a signal strong enough to attend lessons via Zoom.
Dian hopes that the local heroes partnering with her foundation will remain committed and motivated to facilitate the implementation of these programmes. Their dedication is crucial in ensuring that children in these remote areas have access to the same opportunities as those in major cities.
Going green
Dian’s dedication to change doesn’t stop at education – she’s also got her eyes firmly set on the environment.
And thanks to her collaboration with the eco-conscious Indonesian fashion brand Sejauh Mata Memandang, she’s become even more conscious about just how urgent and pressing the climate crisis really is.
One initiative close to her heart is Rampok Plastik, a project encouraging people to swap their single-use plastic bags for eco-friendly, reusable ones provided by Sejauh Mata Memandang. This initiative, a collaboration between Dian’s foundation and the fashion brand, isn’t just about reducing plastic waste; it’s about fostering a mindset change toward sustainable living.
Dian credits the brand’s founder, Chitra Subyakto, for inspiring her to be more environmentally conscious.
"We have always been inspired by how Chitra addresses environmental issues through conscious fashion and responsible sourcing. Whatever support is needed, we are committed to providing it. I hope we can serve as a platform for Sejauh Mata Memandang to amplify its educational outreach even further," Dian explained.
For Dian, this isn’t just a project – it’s a call to action. She hopes her followers will take a hard look at their own impact on the planet and get involved in making a change.
Life in the fast lane
Dian’s life is nothing short of a whirlwind. With a schedule packed to the brim, she constantly battles to balance her personal life, career, and philanthropic work.
She openly admits how tough it is to manage all her commitments at once.
There were times when her thriving acting career demanded center stage, making it a challenge to oversee her foundation. At times even trying to strike a balance between her professional life and her family life – she’s married with two children – became a struggle. Long hours on set often meant little time for her family, let alone managing many intricacies of her foundation.
In the foundation’s early years, when the scholarship programme was its main focus, Dian used to have to travel to Bantul, Yogyakarta once a year to interview prospective recipients.
Now, she find herself in a different rhythm. She counts herself lucky that the Perempuan Inovasi programme has forged strong partnerships that can handle matters like curriculum development and event organisation. This means she can focus on the key moments, and help facilitate the necessary funding, rather than getting caught in the weeds of day-to-day operations.
"In the end, my role is more like a verifier of the activities carried out. It doesn’t require my physical presence as much. Instead, I support it financially and help amplify its news value," Dian explains.
A journey of discovery and identity
For Dian, acting is more than just a career.
It’s a tool for exploration, and a means to uncover and tell stories about national identity
She firmly believes that cinema is a powerful platform for dialogue, a way for individuals to narrate their own journeys. At its core, film can spark a broader conversation about who we are as a nation.
“Whatever it may be, we are constantly defining ourselves through narratives—through the stories we consume. At its core, the human need for storytelling is about making sense of life’s chaos, bringing meaning to an existence that is often unpredictable and uncertain,” Dian says.
“Rather than losing myself in the chaos, I must give it meaning. How? By creating mimicry and nemesis through the narratives of my own tragic life.”
She believes that the desire for people to tell and consume stories – whether through theatre, fiction, poetry, film or drama – is deeply rooted in the human desire for resolution, a sense of hope that keeps us grounded in times of uncertainty.
“Indonesians are in the process of understanding their own identity through dialogue in film—between filmmakers, audiences, and the narratives we create. It’s an ongoing conversation,” says Dian.
And as this dialogue continues, Dian’s own career is far from slowing down.
She’s preparing to dive into exciting new projects, including an international collaboration that will see her involved in a Malaysian film. She’s also just wrapped up Mothernet, a film slated to hit theaters in 2026.
And this year, she’s all in on a new production, Qodrat 2, where she not only acts but also takes on the role of producer. She’s also part of a fantasy horror film Monster Pabrik Rambut or Sleep No More, which is slated for release this year. It is a project by renowned Indonesian production company Palari that recently wrapped up filming. In this too, she’s been involved in production – a true multi-talented powerhouse.
Raising voices for change
Beyond the glitz and glamour of the screen, Dian has proved herself deeply invested in social change.
She dreams of a world where more people use their platforms to shine a light on issues that matter. For Dian, it’s not just about raising awareness – it’s about sparking real, lasting impact.
“Hunger is still an issue, poverty remains a pressing concern, the climate crisis persists, and education inequality continues to be a challenge. Child trafficking is still happening, as is forced marriage,” she says.
“We have a female President, numerous female Ministers, and many women in leadership roles. But just two hours from the capital, young girls are still being trafficked by their own parents, seen as a financial solution to their family’s hardships.”
She’s not resting any time soon, and she hopes more people will chip in – because there’s still work to be done.
“Let’s support each other and raise awareness of these pressing issues. And if possible, let’s go beyond awareness—let’s contribute and create real, tangible impact," Dian says.
