Naughty and nice

Big M gets good at being bad

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos courtesy of Media Studio

Villains in TV dramas are normally disliked by viewers, but 25-year-old heart-throb Likhit Butprom (Big M) has been an exception to that rule since he landed the role of Atikom, a mafia leader’s son in the drama series Kee Ta Lo Ka (Parallel Universe).

The role was a breakthrough for Big M since the solid script allowed the actor’s natural charm to shine through as a tough guy with a crush on Anyama, played by actress Green Ausadaporn.

Big M kicked off his showbiz career by working as a model in 2012. He was then cast in a starring role in Mum Jokmok’s blockbuster comedy movie, Yam Yasothon 3.

Student Weekly recently sent the busy Big M some questions via email. The rising star, who was busy working on the upcoming TV series Jap Gung (Labour), told us about his acting, his co-stars and his latest drama.

Student Weekly: Is it true that you weighed more than 100 kilogrammes when you were a kid?

Big M: Yes. My mother wanted me to lose weight because it was hard to find clothes that fit me and I had a lot of health problems. I decided to lose weight after dreaming that I had a great figure. I wanted to be like I was in the dream. I managed to lose 45 kilos during a three-month school break by controlling my diet. When I returned to school, my friends didn’t recognise me.

Student Weekly: How did you become interested in acting?

Big M: I wasn’t initially interested in acting because I was shy. But after performing in Baitoey’s “Ched Laew Thing (Dump)” music video and acting in a movie and a TV series, I found it challenging and fun to become different characters. Entering the world of each character was like embarking on a new adventure.

Student Weekly: Do you prefer acting in comedies or dramas?

Big M: I prefer dramatic roles. Viewers might think that it’s easy to act in comedies, but it isn’t. It’s harder than acting in dramas or action shows because it requires perfect timing and great jokes.

Student Weekly: What did you think of viewers liking rather than hating the Atikom character in Parallel Universe?

Big M: I don’t think I was successful as a bad guy. But the script showed both a good and bad side of Atikom. He acted tough in front of his dad and his sidekicks. But when he was with Anyama, he completely changed and became a sweet and gentle person. That’s probably why viewers had soft spot for him.

Student Weekly: Which scene in the series was the most difficult for you?

Big M: I was worried about the crying scene the most because I couldn’t cry easily. I worked hard to understand the character’s thoughts and practised a lot for the crying scene. After I managed to accomplish that, I enjoyed acting in dramatic scenes and found that I could cry easily.

Student Weekly: How did you prepare for the action scenes in the show?

Big M: I had a lot of training in boxing and motorcycle riding. It takes a lot of work to have beautiful movements when boxing. I didn’t have smooth movements at first, so I trained at a boxing gym until the director noticed that I’d improved.

Student Weekly: How did you develop the great chemistry between you and Green Ausadaporn?

Big M: Green is very friendly and helpful, and she gave me a lot of advice. Green told me that she didn’t have a lot of friends in showbiz, but that I was one of her best friends. I was surprised and thankful that she saw me as a good friend. Because we’re close, it was easy for us to show our feelings for each other.

Student Weekly: Can you describe your character in the upcoming TV series, Labour?

Big M: I play the leading character, Kla, who is a naïve person. His brother loses the family’s land to a loan shark, so Kla works in a rice mill in Bangkok to get the land back. While there, he meets the main female character played by Jam Panichada. It’s a light-hearted comedy series which is totally different from Parallel Universe. Kla is a nice guy, but I prefer playing a bad guy like Atikom.

Student Weekly: Is working with Jam Panichada different from acting with Green?

Big M: A lot different. Green has a lot of acting experience, while Jam is very young and is still new to acting. Jam is nice, bold and straightforward. She isn’t really sweet like some other girls, but she’s fun to work with.

Student Weekly: Do you have any message for your fans?

Big M: Thank you so much for supporting me and liking my work. Please check out my upcoming series, Labour. I’m playing a character that is very different from Atikom.

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