Boys' love dramas are one of Thailand's most popular entertainment exports, and KinnPorsche: The Series made stars out of its telegenic cast right off the bat. It started streaming in April 2022, and spawned an Asian tour with 16 actors that landed its first overseas gig in Singapore last October. Two of the supporting cast members, Bible Wichapas Sumettikul, 24, and Build Jakapan Puttha, 28, were back in town in November as guests of "Venture Beyond by Penfolds", an immersive, space exploration-themed brand experience showcasing the winemaker's 2022 collection. Harper's BAZAAR Singapore took the opportunity to catch up with the rising actors.
Like all adored stars of boys' love or BL dramas, Bible and Build's journey to stardom has been driven by fans whose support, in Bible's words, "means everything". He says, "I am honoured, thankful and shocked by the overwhelming support. I think it's because it's a completely new experience to me, and it has changed my life in every single way." Build affirms that the love of their fans continue to inspire them. "They mean a lot to us. Without them, I wouldn't be here. It encourages me to continue to develop myself," he adds.
The escapist storylines, high production values and attractive actors have made BL dramas an instant hit with audiences worldwide. BL dramas are seen by some as Thailand's soft power, doing for the country's image what K-pop has done for South Korea, thanks to its virality on social media that's helped it amass a massive global fandom. Months after the show ended its run, KinnPorsche continues to trend on TikTok and Twitter, with fans clamouring for a second season. Bible says he always had faith that the series would be a hit. "Perhaps I set the bar for its success too low. The reality became so much more than I ever could have imagined or even dared to hope for."
This story is from the January - February 2023 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
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This story is from the January - February 2023 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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