SHY GUY

Thai actor Kanawut “Gulf” Traipipattanapong is loved for his onscreen portrayals and good looks. He is set to melt even more hearts with his blossoming music career.

- PARISA PICHITMARN

In an endless sea of media loaded with music, memes and newsflashes that vie for this generation’s fickle attention, our star celebrity’s music video for his first single, Congratulations, is impressive.

Kanawut “Gulf” Traipipattanapong sings and stars as the male lead attending a past lover’s wedding—one that fittingly channels the aesthetics of the macabre The Addams Family-esque funeral. It’s unforgettable, because no average person in their right mind would attend an ex’s nuptials, but Gulf only has well wishes and happily sends her off. “Honestly, in real life I’m not sure at all if I would attend or not,” he laughs. “I wrote this song from real life. It may not have reached the point of a wedding, but it was about a high school crush. I didn’t tell her though and she had already moved on with a boyfriend, but I’m happy for them.”

Many are likely to recognise the towering and handsome star from his lead role in TharnType: The Series, which propelled him to overnight fame in 2019. Portraying a college homophobe rooming with an openly gay roommate, the boys’ love (BL) series garnered him a global fan base and saw the series renewed for another season. However, Gulf’s appeal transcends the BL circuit and he has gone on to prove his acting chops in a movie and television series alongside big-league Thai actresses, such as Anne Thongprasom and Janie Tienphosuwan. Now, as an actor signed under Channel 3, Thailand’s national broadcast powerhouse, his popularity is likely to grow even more as he cements his status as a serial hero.