Mayoo Indiran and Abubakar «Abu» Hussain:

– Sending a duo out to Norway to experience the country is nothing new, Mayoo Indiran (32) begins his reasoning.

Had the sale ended there, it probably would not have been worth reading on.

– But sending Abu and me, it will be completely unique, says Indiran and laughs.

Best friends are both part of the gift Gullruten nominations Saturday nightAbubakar «Abu» Hussain (35) as part of TV 2’s «Norway’s new megahit» and the humor series «Kasko», and Indiran for «Kompani Lauritzen» on the same channel.

They have also recently appeared together in both TV 2’s “Sofa” and TV3’s “Prisoners at the fort”, and will now have their very own program, “Abu and Mayoos Norway”, on TV 2 Play this autumn.

Out of the comfort zone

Here they will get out of their natural, urban habitat, and experience rural Norway – which for them is, so to speak, unknown territory.

Among other things, they will go on a cabin trip, visit a farm, join a robbery party, go in the mountains and go fishing.

– I have never understood why Norwegians go on a cabin trip or want to sleep in a tent. I have found it completely absurd! Why should you settle for a completely medium bed, or forest floor, when you can have it so comfortable and digg in Oslo ?, wonders actor and host Hussain.

Hussain was born in Pakistan, but grew up in Lørenskog. Indiran’s parents are from Sri Lanka, but he was born in Norway and raised in Oslo. Despite the fact that both have lived in Norway all their lives, neither of them has a relationship with Norwegian holidays.

– We traveled to either London or Paris, because Dad’s siblings lived there. When I was little I was always a little jealous that my friends went camping, but in adulthood I realized that I have been lucky, says Indiran and chuckles.

While Hussain’s friends went to the cabin, or to what he thought was the land of the “South,” he enjoyed the summers of his childhood in the family’s homeland.

– I never missed cabin trips as a child. I got to travel all over Pakistan and meet the extended family, and I loved that, he says enthusiastically.

Will pass on to the daughters

As they have grown older, they have both realized that there is something they have missed.

– I have realized that I have lived a little too comfortably, and that it has become harder and harder for me to get out of that comfort zone, Indiran explains.

Hussain also wants this experience to help him pass on more aspects of Norwegian culture to his two daughters aged five and eight.

– I have two small children, and today things are different than when I grew up. There are more mixed environments, and people are more integrated now. I want them to be able to experience the same as their friends do, and then I have realized that it is I who must help them with that, he says.

Asked for help

It is easy to believe that the radar couple Abu and Mayoo have known each other since childhood, but the truth is completely different. The strong friendship was created by chance, in what was a lead-heavy time for both of them.

– Mayoo loves to tell a story that I “slid into his DM”, but it was probably not a very discreet message, Hussain begins.

The 35-year-old says that in reality it was a cry for help. In December 2015, Hussain was informed that the unhealthy lifestyle he had lived had given him heart failureand that he would die if he did not change his life radically.

Vital friendship

After expert medical help and rehabilitation, he also had to continue the new everyday life on his own. This is where Mayoo comes in.

Through his friend, host and music critic Sandeep Singh (36), Hussain was introduced to “Paradise Hotel” -Mayoo in 2016.

– Sandeep looked at Paradise, and talked a lot about the Sri Lankan who was with. When I started following Mayoo on Instagram, I noticed that he trained at Lørenskog. And then I asked him for help.

The 35-year-old explains that Indiran stepped up to his door and pulled him up and out.

– At that time, my life was marked by depression and anxiety. I did not want to meet anyone, but Mayoo did not give up. He picked me up every single day. Not only to train, but also to hang out and get me in a better mood.

– Had it not been for Mayoo’s motivation and help, I most likely would not have been more, Hussain states.

Switched roles

That same year, the roles were to turn around. In December 2016, two days before Christmas Eve, Indiran was arrested by police. He was then charged with drug offenses and remanded in custody for one and a half months.