Scene Stealer

BY AIDEN JEWELLE GONZALES

I really don’t know how it happened!” Shivam Pawa tells me in joyful disbelief when I met him to get the inside scoop on his acting debut in the upcoming Thai horror film Malee (2024), in which he plays ‘Him,’ a character haunted by both his past and a mysterious entity.“The passion for acting was always inside me; I’m sure since I was in my mum’s stomach – I was a dramatic baby!” he continues with a laugh. “But I never thought that I would get to act in a movie, let alone a Thai movie, where people who look like me still barely get any recognition. Being able to act in the country where I was born is not something I would ever have dreamed of.”

Having known him since his TikTok days making humorous content about the Thai-Indian experience, during which Masala featured him and other Thai-Indian influencers making their mark on the online space, it was a pleasure to see how far he’d come since then. We spoke further about how he got into the industry, how he feels like an ambassador of sorts as an Indian in Thai cinema, and his gratitude for his dual Thai and Indian identity, which he hopes will be the impetus for more Thai films embracing diversity in their cast. 

You’ve gained recognition through your TikTok content, but how did your journey into acting, especially in the Thai film industry, begin?

The movie director or producer was looking for someone of Indian ethnicity, and so they called me for a casting call, having seen my TikToks. They said it would be very quick, but it turned out to be a whole day of casting! I thought I’d just be auditioning for the role of an extra, but I had no idea what was waiting for me behind the door. I only found out three weeks before they started filming, when the called me and said, “You got the part – and it’s the lead.”

I’ve always wanted to be an actor, but it was a pipe dream; the kind where one percent of people get this opportunity. I’m so overwhelmed and excited, especially about the fact that I’m Thai-Indian and starring in a Thai film – I didn’t think that could be possible!

You’ve mentioned that your Indian heritage and Thai upbringing allow you to bring to the table a unique approach. Do you feel that duality influences your role in this film, especially in terms of character portrayal?

Firstly, there are so many similarities between Thai and Indian culture. Being an Indian who grew up in Thailand, I could resonate so well with my Thai friends because what our parents taught us, and our values, were so similar – for example, respecting your elders and the importance of family. I don’t consider myself fully Indian or fully Thai; I’m both at the same time. I’ve absorbed both cultures, and I respect both so much, and those values have shaped who I am as a person. And this is something that I can bring to my character in the film, as his background is similar. He’s Thai-Indian and he’s from both cultures. Being an Indian born in Thailand has been such a great opportunity for me because it allowed me to be curious, allowed me to grow up with both cultures and values, and that’s what allowed me to adapt to this film completely

When it comes to your acting approach, do you find yourself drawn to method acting, or do you prefer another style?

How do you prepare yourself to take on a role, particularly one in a horror film This character is very artistic and a huge introvert; he mostly keeps to himself. So to get into his mind, I just locked myself in a room and didn’t come out at all. [Laughs] To be honest, this character is the opposite of who I am. I’m an extrovert and very energetic. On the other hand, ‘Him’ spends most of his day in his own head. As you approach the climax of the film, all his emotions are building up inside of him, and all of a sudden he explodes. Personally, I’m the kind of person who would just say right away if something bothered me. But Him, he’s keeping it inside, until mai whai laew!

I found his character so interesting, and when I got into his head, I found myself becoming Him for a while. It’s not quite method acting, but to make audiences believe that a character is real, I think you have to understand them and to some respect, be them. It stuck with me for a little under a month – but then I had to let it go, which is also one thing you’ve got to know how to do as an actor. I’m not the greatest actor – I’m hoping to improve and maybe get there some day – but at the end of the day, my role is to entertain people. I don’t want to take myself so seriously that I forget that it’s for the audience.

One way that I had to prepare was improving my Thai drastically. The script was 300 pages in Thai. My Thai language skills at that time, including reading and writing, were not very strong. For the whole two-month process, I started training myself rigorously in Thai. Another challenge was that I’d never been to acting school. There were a few acting workshops we did, but mostly the guidance I got was on set from my director and his assistant director, who guided me through it all. Being on TikTok and being in a film are two completely different beasts! I learned through the process, which was very tough, but amazing.

The film includes LGBTQIA+ themes, which is not often seen in mainstream Thai horror. How do you feel about being part of a project that pushes boundaries in that way?

I’m really excited for this aspect of our project – I have so much respect for the LGBTQIA+ community. When it comes to our film, I feel that there hasn’t been, or it’s very rare, for a Thai film to showcase a lesbian love stor in this way. But don’t get me wrong, this is not the main theme of the film. It’s primarily a horror movie, and i just so happens that the main couple in it consists of two women.

This love story, and showing all aspects of it, is I think one of the most amazing things that we’re doing. I know that a lot of people in the community might see this and ask, “What is this?!” It may shock the aunties and uncles a little, but I think it’s important that they understand that our generation has a different mindset now, an we’re a lot more accepting than before. We’re pushing boundaries, and Thailand especially is one of the number one countries for LGBTQIA+ acceptance, especially in this part of the world, and we in the studio are so proud of that, and we want to showcase it.

Your TikTok content blends humour, culture, and identity. How did those creative elements influence or prepare you for your acting career?

The fire in me to become an actor has always been there but what I was able to do on TikTok was to give my talent an outlet. It allowed other people, and even myself, to see that I can act, and that I had potential – even if it was just acting as my mum for humorous content [Laughs]. People in my comments used to ask, “Shivam, when will you be in a film orlakorn?” I would tell them, “Let’s see if there’s space for me in this industry, especially with this face that’s not typically Thai!”

Tell them that they better show up to the movie’s premier! How do you think they’ll react to seeing you on the big screen, in a much darker and different kind of role?

Oh, they’re waiting, for sure! When I released the teaser, someone commented, “I knew it!” [Laughs] I’m really excited for them to see me in a different light – most people see me as a happy, humorous guy, and so they’ll get to see another side of me, or rather of Him. I hope they can see the potential I have and support me throughout. I firmly believe that it’s because of the blessings fro my fans and from above that I’ve gotten this once-in- a-lifetime opportunity. I feel like the spokesman for my community, and I need to set an example, and show them that we can take it to the next level.

Thailand’s movie industry is on the rise, with the government investing in it as a form of soft power, and with Thai horror films gaining international attention. What excites you most about working in this evolving space?

I feel like it was the perfect timing when we started this – the Thai movie industry was starting to boom, and Thai horror movies were starting to gain a lot of international recognition. And horror as a genre has become big in both Thailand and India these last couple of years. I sincerely believe that I’m at the right time and the right place now, and it’s the perfect timing for someone who looks a little more international, more Indian, to be in a Thai film. People can see that while this is a Thai film, there’s a Thai actor who has an India look, and they’ll realise that Thais are more diverse than they think. I’d love it if I had the opportunity to reach an international audience because of my international face and background, and to help Thai film gain recognition that way. Thai films are not poorly made; they can be amazing. If  can be a vessel to help our industry reach that international recognition, I would absolutely love that. 

What were some of the challenges you faced as a young, up-and-coming actor in this film, and how did those challenges help you grow professionally?

Being an actor is not easy; the pressure is immense! A lot of people say that they want to be an actor, but they don’t know what the job requires, which is extreme discipline. Moreover, you’re not just an actor on set, you’re also an actor of set. Most people have a 9 to 5 – you go to the office, you your work, and then you go home. For me, I always have to bring the same energy to set every single day. Being an actor is also being a man of the people. As much as you’re working hard on set, you have to work as hard when you’re outside, with the public.

There’s a lot pressure as the new kid coming in. It’s hard because there’s a set time where you have to finish each shoot, and if you g over time, the producer has to pay extra money. You have to take any setbacks as life learnings, and they grew me as a person. It’s a never-ending learning process, and as an actor, you always learn something new. I hope I never stop learning.

Can you give us an idea of what the movie is about? What can audiences expect in terms of story and themes?

It’s about karma, or กรรม in Thai. What you did in your past life, you’ll face in this life, and it’s a horror film based on that. What you may do now won’t just affect you, but your next life will have to deal with your karma too. It’s got such a beautiful story; yes, it’s scary, but it’s also got a great storyline.

Without giving away any spoilers, what was your favourite scene to shoot in the film? Was there a moment that really stood out for you as an actor?

There’s a scene from the film where we had to find out whether or not there was a ghost chasing us. So we play a game called Running the Four Pillars – you’ve got to watch it; it’s crazy! When we were filming, we had to ‘call the ghost to come play the game with us. But we were so in character that I think we actually did call a ghost. We heard the actual bells of the phi nang ram – a Thai dancer ghost – following us. A lot of these creepy things happened during the shoot. I only heard a few weird noises, but a few people saw some unexplained things!

You’d also asked about method acting – there’s one scene in the film that was definitely all about method actin You’ll know it when you see it, and it’ll prove why I so badly want to be an actor.

Now that you’ve starred in a horror film, what are your future aspirations in the film industry? Any plans to explore different genres or create your own content?

I didn’t choose the film; the film chose me. But I hope this proves that I’m willing to go for any genre. Someone asked me, “do you want to be a superstar, or do you want to be an actor?” Basically, am I willing to take on different roles or do I just want to be a hero every time For me, I’m so into this craft, that I do want to try every role. The word ‘superstar’ shouldn’t be coming from your own mouth – it should be something that your audience decides after they’ve decided that you deserve that role.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow actors, Earth Saharat Panyasart,Fern Nutthiya Woha,Prym Anongrak Sukkthongwong, Copter Sirachai Sangsiri, and Moo Therapist Suvandee; and my Producers and Directors, Nonglek Kamonnutthawalin Kamonin, Krit Kitidech Roemsakun, and Ton Siripon. I am so grateful to all of them for their support through this incredible journey, without which I wouldn’t be here today.