[4] By the following year Astaman had abandoned Constantinople to join the troupe Dardanella in 1920, which was run by the Penang-born actor of Russian descent Willy A. Piedro and his native wife Devi Dja.

He played various roles with them, and starred in several of their performances, including Andjar Asmara's Dr Samsi and a stage adaptation of Kwee Tek Hoay's Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang.

In a 1964 interview with the variety magazine Varia, he recalled that every time he played a king the European viewers would laugh loudly; Astaman later learned that his costume was that of a matador.

After refusing a position with Njoo Cheong Seng's troupe Fifi Young's Pagoda, Astaman joined the group Tuan Mannuk.

[10] In 1949, towards the end of the Indonesian National Revolution, Astaman joined Fred Young's studio Bintang Surabaya and began acting in its films,[4] making his debut with Saputangan in 1949.

[4] On 20 August 1980, Astaman died at Dr. Mintohardjo Naval Hospital in Tanah Abang, Jakarta, after treated for hypertension which he suffered for 7 years and caused a brain hemorrhage at the age of 80.