Page 13 - Masala Lite Issue 176 August 2025

the bi-national scholarship funded by both the
home country’s and the USA’s governments.
It took me about a year to complete.
Fortunately, at the time, Channel 9 was
looking for someone with my qualifications

in economics, who could easily approach CEOs,
pose the right questions, and truly understand
the topics.
Your parents must have been proud.
You have to remember, this was back in the
90s. It was a big deal to be seen on television.
I made my dad very proud. We own this shop,
Sachdev Grocery in Phahurat, and everyone
used to come to him bragging about how they
saw his son on television.
It seems like you transitioned from radio

to TV flawlessly. How did this affect your
communication style?
It’s mainly because I was laser-focused on my
assignments, which was to deliver the business
knowledge and movements to the business
community. The show’s direction was already
shaped by the organisation, and I knew how to
speak the language and all the industry jargon
that comes with it. However, my style was a bit
outside the box—I actually used music in my
storytelling! The executives at Nation Radio at
the time used to complain about why I kept
using music in a talk show. But the audience
loved it, and the executives eventually caved. Dharam Veer (1977), Shaan (1980), and Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), which was
You can’t take life too seriously all the time. actually the fi rst fi lm we watched on the video player at home. Then, there was The
There has to be a balance. Great Gambler (1979; starring Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman), which was

And music is a very big part of my life. Growing immensely influential on my life because it was shot in Venice; I wanted to travel
up in my family, we listened to music nearly all and see the world because of it.

the time. I would always find myself humming But it wasn’t just Bollywood. On the Hollywood side, I loved the film Amadeus (1984),

songs at random moments subconsciously. I which was later adapted for a stage play in the Bangkok theatre scene, and I had the
would have no idea I was doing it until someone privilege to play one of the characters in that adaptation back in 1996. Then in the early
would point it out. It was only natural that I, 2000s, I participated in a production of Better Return Home at the Patravadi Theatre,

too, use music in my storytelling. now better known as the Theatre Residence. I’ve only been in two Thai films, but
the stage is where I belonged; acting and performing have always been my passion.
The power of storytelling will always be
captivating. Did you find it to be a similar You were simply destined for the stage.

experience to your voiceover projects, when [Laughs] Stage play is the highest form of performance art. Not only do you have to
giving each character or brand a personality? remember your lines, you have to remember everyone else’s as well. Every round is

Well, it depends on the assignment and the different because the reactions of the audience vary from night to night. Shooting

job. I’ve given my voice to certain characters in movies and shows is different, as you can imagine. For example, in the Mad Unicorn
several movies. I played with my voice all the series, I was there for a single day for a single scene. There were multiple takes because
time growing up. So, it’s a bit more like acting. the director was trying to capture many angles and everyone’s reactions. And I have
You’re still putting on a performance, even to admit, I got a little tipsy, not from the rum, though, which was actually tea, but
though you don’t see the face. For example, from the cigar! I digress. But what I’m trying to say is you don’t get to do that on
I once voiced the character of Bupkus, one stage; there are no second takes in a live performance.
of the ‘Monstars’ in 1994’s Space Jam. These On and off the stage, you’ve also managed to take your expertise and experience

types of characters make you experiment with into the classrooms of Thammasat University, Chulalongkorn University and Siam
different kinds of voices, tones, and sounds, etc. University. How has it been as a lecturer in media?

On the other hand, I was also chosen to narrate the reality show Amazing Race
(2001–current), which was live commentary from seasons 2 to 28. I would say it The universities approached me to teach this course for senior year students. It’s
was my most challenging assignment. Thankfully, the audience loved it because as called Mass Media and Society, which is more like a seminar class. This was back in
you can imagine, doing simultaneous translation in little to no time seems nearly 2011, but the textbook they gave me was published in 1970! Fortunately, practicality
impossible. You really don’t have that much time to think. This is similar to my job prevailed, and they gave me the freedom to design my own curriculum. And the
narrating the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and the Emmy Awards while it’s curriculum changes every year because media, like technology, evolves. You can’t
live on air. Many in the industry auditioned for the role but found it to be no easy task. teach this particular subject through a single textbook; it doesn’t work that way. So,
every week we discuss relevant topics that are hot and trending in the media.
It seems like it came so naturally to you. I think what is missing in Thai education is critical thinking, which is crucial in media.
I grew up as a thespian, honing my skills from my early school days. I’ve been involved My intention was not to go into the classroom as a teacher, instructor, or professor,
in many stage plays, which is where I worked on my craft and fell in love with it. And but more like a recruiter or an usher bringing in the future generation of media into
those early years of training, I believe, really helped my voice to become as flexible the world and industry I love. I want to use my experience of enduring prejudices

and dynamic as it is now. and the out-dated ways of doing things to create an environment of diversity and
inclusivity. I cannot change the past, but I can surely invest in the future generation

It’s also brought you to the big screen. You landed Netflix’s Mad Unicorn (2025). in the right way.

What drew you to this project? How did this differ from other projects?
How can the new gen stay on the correct course?
Well, I’ve been in Thai movies since the early 2000s, such as Angulimala (2003) and
The Adventure of the Iron Pussy (2003). But I have always been typecast, so I think It’s unfortunate that the younger generation wasn’t able to live during our time in
my name is already in the database. When Mad Unicorn came along, the casting just media, where authenticity was more apparent and we didn’t have to worry about
called me for the audition for the character of Navin, the CEO of Fly Bangkok and damaging our critical thinking. With shorter attention spans, the way people consume
owner of a cigar bar. I think it’s based on an Indian airline mogul, who comes off as a media, and become slaves of the algorithm, makes

very wealthy, spoiled, sort of nepo-baby businessman. He’s the type of character who it all more challenging to be authentic. VIEW VIDEO
hasn’t seen or experienced real trouble in his life, and some of that dialogue resonated I think they are lucky enough to be surrounded by a
with many of the younger Indian audiences who still have much in life to discover. wealth of information, but they still need guidance
from those who have more experience. At the risk
Streaming has changed the way we consume media drastically, and you’ve managed of sounding too preachy, they should value the
to adapt seamlessly. But do you ever reminisce about the movies and songs of old? experience of their predecessors before making life-
Most of them are from Bollywood movies and Lata Mangeshkar songs. Even now, altering decisions. Respect is a given, but equally
well into my fifties, I still go back and listen to all the songs from the black and white important is valuing the wisdom that surrounds you

era. Back then, I would sing along as my dad would play cassette tapes on car rides, and incorporating that into your decision-making. I
and at home, there were countless listens to LPs from our record collection. truly believe education starts at home, and you never
For me, it was all about the movies from the 70s and 80s, such as Kranti (1981), stop learning outside of it.