Pachara Chirathivat (Thai: พชร จิราธิวัฒน์, pronounced[pʰátɕʰaráʔtɕìrāːtʰíwát], born 10 May 1993), also known as Peach, is a Thai actor and singer. He is best known for his lead roles in the 2011 films SuckSeed and The Billionaire. He is currently working with Channel 3, and is also one of the main leads in the teen drama Hormones: The Series, playing the role of Win. Pachara also plays music with his indie band named Rooftop, and engages in philanthropy with patients in hospitals. He is a member of the Chirathivat family, and graduated from Chulalongkorn University.
Chirathivat (middle) with the cast of SuckSeed at a promotional event on 15 February 2011.
Chirathivat marked his acting debut in SuckSeed, a 2011 comedy film that focuses on music.[5] Directed by first-time feature director Chayanop Boonprakob, the film was a success both at the box office and with critics.[6] It also received The Laugh Category Uminchu Prize Grand Prix at the 4th Okinawa International Movie Festival.[7] Following the film's success, he was cast in Songyos Sugmakanan's biographical filmThe Billionaire in the same year, playing young entrepreneur Itthipat Kulapongvanich's character. Since he was accustomed to having other lead actors with him in SuckSeed, he had a hard time acting multiple scenes on his own at first. He was seen carrying heavy sacks of nuts on his shoulders, for example, in which he thought the scene was very brutal.[8] His buttocks were accidentally bruised during a shoot as well.[9] With the help of the director, he later managed to overcome his stress and he was proud to be a part of the film.[10]
The next year, he joined the cast of thriller filmCountdown, playing the character, Jack. Although he shared some attributes of Jack, such as studying abroad and being a rebel, he changed completely (with the way he talked, dressed, walked, and lived) to get into character.[4] He also had to learn martial arts to avoid injuries during their action scenes.[11] In one scene where Jack is strangled, however, Chirathivat was actually being suffocated; he tried to tell the crew to stop strangling him because he could not breathe, but they thought he was just acting.[12] The film was shortlisted as the Thai entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.[13]
After working with Sugmakanan in the 2011 film The Billionaire, the director cast Chirathivat as one of the main leads in GTH's TV series Hormones. Breaking the mould of Thai television, which typically features Thai soap operas and sitcoms, Hormones seeks to explore and portray various aspects and issues of adolescent life. These include topics normally considered taboo for open discussion in Thai society, such as teenage sex and school violence.[14] Just like the other main cast members, Chirathivat's character and personality in the series were based on the combination of his own experiences and the crew's research on contemporary adolescent issues. He played the character of Win, the most popular boy at school who later fell into the world of drugs, discothèque and night life. He felt very lucky to be part of the series, stating: "I have learned the lives of the characters through their many experiences, incidents that I have never seen in my life."[15] Although originally planned for only one season, its popularity and reception prompted Hormones to have a total of three seasons. Including Chirathivat, the original cast members reprised their roles for the second season and returned as guest stars for the last season.[16]
Besides acting Chirathivat is also into making music, particularly electronic and rock music. After his stint in SuckSeed, He has had his own rock band named Rooftop, under the indie music label Smallroom.[10][21] He once worked together with K-pop star Nichkhun for a brand.[22] In 2015, he collaborated with musician and producer Pakorn "Beam" Musikaboonlert and formed a new rock band, White Rose.[23] The band's name was inspired by a non-violent resistance group of students from a University in Munich during the Nazi Germany in 1941. Their single "Dear You" was produced by the French indie band Tahiti 80.[24]
Chirathivat writes most of the lyrics in his songs. He stated: "I feel most comfortable singing my own lyrics. If you sing your own song, nobody else can do it better than you."[24] Besides singing, he also plays the keyboards and guitar.[25]
Philanthropy
In 2014, he provided support for a 12-year-old boy named Mon, who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Chirathivat initially got a call from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant Mon's dying wish of meeting him in person. Mon expressed admiration towards Chirathivat ever since he watched SuckSeed. In return, Chirathivat continued to provide support for Mon. He stated: "I never thought I'd be such an influence like this on people... When we have a good life, a good job and good health, we should share our happiness with others. I tell myself I have to do best every day, because we never know what might happen."[26] In celebration of his birthday every year, he also occasionally donates medical equipment at the Chulalongkorn Hospital for the patients.[17][27]
Personal life
At age 20, Chirathivat was ordained as a Buddhist monk for three weeks as is the custom in Thailand.[28]
In early 2015, Chirathivat submitted a request to defer military enlistment for academic reasons.[29] The next year, he again filed a waiver due to acting commitments. He is stated to be aware that conscription in Thailand is unavoidable, and mentioned he is fine serving his countrymen.[30]
Chirathivat left the family’s retail business after graduating university. Although, he started to run the local franchise of Philippine-based fast food chain, Potato Corner.[31]
Pachara had a relationship with singer Note Panayanggool[32] for three years but broke up.[33] He had a relationship with actress Patricia Good of Channel 3,[34] which ended due to personal differences.[35] Later, he was involved with model Minnie Lin.[36]
