Celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger started out as body-builders and later became actors.
Above: Actor Chaiwat "Tob'' Thongsang was only 17 years old when he was cast in Bangkok Love Story; picture at the top of the page shows the actor who had recently turned 20.
Chaiwat, whose nickname is "Tob," was only 17 years old when he was cast in his first leading role in the controversial feature film Puen Koo Rak Meung Wah (Bangkok Love Story), released September 2007.
In the movie, he played "It," a closeted gay man in uniform who is about to marry his pretty fiance. But by chance he falls in love with a lone hit man hired to assassinate him.
The movie broke new ground in mainstream Thai cinema with the portrayal of two masculine men in intimate scenes including deep kissing and love-making. For decades, the big Thai studios produced movies with themes or sub-plots about sad transgender characters and comedies portraying gay men as drag queens.
Not so with Tob, who was 79 kg and 187 cm when he was cast and already looked like an aspiring body-builder. He said he became interested in body-building when he was 14, but only got serious about it after the success of Bangkok Love Story, which afforded him the time and money to devote himself to the sport.
His personal success is all the more ironic given how most actors still shun gay roles, seeing them as the kiss of death for their careers. As with Tob's transition from actor to body-builder, his attitude toward gay roles is the opposite of most actors.
"I wanted the part because I knew taking a gay role could quickly make me famous," Tob said, adding that he's more than willing to take on the role of another gay hunk, if offered.
"No doubt about it," he said. "If I hadn't played It, I wouldn't have gotten famous and received more job offers," adding that recently he was the only guy picked out of 25 male actors in casting for a foreign film production to be announced. He was also signed up to be a presenter in a TV commercial ad for a muscle-pain relief balm gel product.
While doing publicity interviews for the movie, Tob said the most oft-asked question was how he felt about kissing a man. He always gave the same answer: he's straight, but also a professional: "After many takes, I got used to it. It's just acting."
Late last year, he was seen dancing at a famous gay bar on Samet Island with his girlfriend and her gay pals.
"It's fun going out with them," said Tob. "They're members of a cheerleading team at the university where my girlfriend is studying. In the group, it's only me and another guy who are straight. I really had a good time on the trip."
Now standing 190 cm and over 90 kg, Tob turned 20 a few months ago and is ready for a new direction, though he's not giving up on acting or modeling work, which pay the bills. He said he believes he can tone down his big muscles if they do not fit the outfits for fashion shoots or movie roles.
Tob made his remarks in a two-part special interview with the male lifestyle TV show Passport For Men, now available with English subtitles on the Internet and on Bangkok cable TV.
In the show's special two-part report, "Adonis," Tob and his buddies talk about the tough training sessions and how they enjoy the sweat, shouting, and companionship of one another.
"I'm training to compete in a body-building contest in October this year," he said. "It's my dream. I'm not planning to be another 'Hulk,' but I want my muscles toned."
He plans to compete in Body Classic category, under which the contestants develop toned muscles without the bulk.
One of his trainers Sitthi Charoenrith is a five-time Mr Thailand champion and two-time International Federation of Body Builders world champion. "Since Tob has strong interest in the sport and he is a well-build, I believe that he stands a great chance to join the national team.
"Please come to the competition and give me support," he said.
Adonis Part 1 (with English subtitles)
Adonis Part 2 (with English subtitles)
Passport For Men (www.ppformen.com) is aired every Thursday evening at 22.30 on Bangkok cable system TrueVisions' Channel 102 and via a satellite system by Mcot Channel 2 (Mcot2).
Reader's Comments
I wish him a great success for his next endeavour and will stay as his fan.
Hopefully he will keep up the good work, whether he is straight or bent, I will give him my supports!
Do we have to scream in awe and pretend there's genius in that disappointing movie just because 2 gorgeous guys are kissing "in public" ? How would the movie have been perceived by gays if the guys were not gym queens with cute faces ? Because that's what it's all about, right ?
Have y'all seen Wong Kar-Wai's "Chongking Express" ? Now THAT movie has true genius in it, not the McDonald kind of cuisine used in Bangkok Love Story.
A singer is not good JUST because he/she's famous, an actor is not good JUST because he/she's beautiful and a film is not good JUST because it talks about gays.
By the by, the acting in this film is absolutely atrocious.
Eye candy yes, the so called BKK Love Story has, but lacks mainstream cred. One just dun see st8 or gay people desperately grabbing each other in public under heavy downpour to make out, rolling all over the streets.No, not even alley cats do that! Duh.? Even Brokeback makes that urgency appear more restrained when the 2 leads kissed under a hidden stairway after not seeing each other for ages. That's reality.
I do give it points for good cinematography and plausible sappy songs. Story line? geez...u just dun make out with someone who's out to kill you, even if he happens to look like Brad Pit.
Back to the drawing board sir. Movie no good, No like....:P
You give us a break !!! Who are you to say and comment that the acting is pathetic, the story is ridiculously thin, the filming is pretentious and shallow, the music is lousy, the lighting is tacky and over the top, the editing is heavy...hellooooooo , hear who is talking ??? Who are you to say such negative comments ???? Can you act in the first place , direct a film or even come up with a plot ???
Pleaseeeeeeeee get a life and move on B**** !!!!!
i am handsome boy
i want to make friend with you
are he sure he is straight??
I do not need to know who you are. All I want to state is don't make such judgement and comments. Give everyone the credit and due they deserve. Period.
The problem with most of us here is we make very nasty comments about others without reflecting on ourselves , which make many people have this preconceived notion about our character. Lets be nice to one another and move on with our lives. NOthing personal here. Cheers and have a great weekend.
Love you all. One dream and one world :)
And I believe everyone has a right to voice out their opinion. Whether it's negative or not. It's calling each other derogatory terms which I think we should not stand for.
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Everyone should have the right to make a critique so long as it doesn't get personal or bitchy.
I'm not so sure I want to see so much muscles on him though - he doesn't need it. He should spend some time honing his craft.
All the same, I wish TOB lots of success to come - but I don't think he needs another gay film to propel him further.
And as for the typical gay dissing on this comment board: I indeed believe that everyone has the right to speak out his mind, to have an opinion and this opinion to be respected. It doesn't show a lot of tolerance if people who happen to have a different view to a thing or in this case a movie and its qualities are personally offended. And isn't tolerance what we all ask for all the time? And no one needs to be a professional art or movie critic to express his or her pleasure or displeasure with a production like this.
And just to get it right - I enjoyed watching the movie. Just because I like looking at beautiful people.
What I meant to say "great" isn't about the cinematography or acting or anything of the sort. It's the IMPACT that this movie made on Thai movie scene.
This is the first film in Thailand that portrays the gay male as a man not just effeminate lady boys. And it speaks of gay love in a beautiful way and that gay love can be everlasting yet somewhat tragic.
All in all, I wasn't regret that I spent 2-3 hours watching this movie. Entertaining, some eyecandy and it impacted!
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