The last time we saw him, Tony Jaa brawled with the late Paul Walker in Fast And Furious 7, a blood-rushing tumble of masculine masses on a moving mega-truck. This week Jaa -- the Thai martial arts star whose real name is Tachakorn Yeerum -- is back in the cinema in xXx: Return Of Xander Cage, an action thriller starring Vin Diesel in the leading role.
The film also stars two other known Asian faces: Hong Kong maestro Donnie Yen has a prominent turn as a gang leader, and Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone sidles up with Diesel. Jaa is one of the muscle men in the film that promises plenty of action and stunt work, a cocktail of extreme sports, wild fighting scenes and a plot about a super-weapon called Pandora's Box.
The star of Ong-bak -- still one of the best-known Thai movies abroad after 16 years -- left his stormy past and professional feuds behind to have scored two roles, however small, in A-list Hollywood titles. The native of Surin recently sat down to answer our questions.
How did you get the part in xXx: Return Of Xander Cage?
After Fast 7, the producer of xXx saw me and my American agent worked on it. Vin Diesel, with whom I also worked in Fast 7, likes extreme sports and martial arts. We practised together in Fast 7 and he said we should work together again, so here it is.
Tell us more about Vin.
He's a good actor. He has great fighting skills. Most importantly he wants to try muay Thai. You see him doing chak sok [back elbowing] in the trailer, and that's already made me happy to see a muay Thai move in a Hollywood film shown around the world.
How did you work with the team to choreograph the fighting in xXx?
My character is a badass with bleached hair, but the team knew my style and they allowed me to add Thai flavour in the fighting. The stunt director talked to me about our scenes and I sometime suggested the moves that are more complex. The film also has Donnie Yen, who does kung fu. But it's not all about 'beautiful moves'. We had to think about the camera angle, the supporting technique, etc, I have to be a part of everything.
In Ong-bak, you became famous for 'no stunt, no sling' approach. Is that allowed in Hollywood?
Let's say there's a limitation to what you can do. Hollywood is concerned with safety because at that level, they make sure to take care of you. You're in the system. There are clear rules about what we can't do. Sometimes you can't refuse to use a stunt person. Say, you hang on top of a pole and the camera is far away, you have to use a stunt person. There's no point to do it yourself.
Tell us about Paul Walker, who passed away after filming Fast 7.
I worked with him one month. Every morning we would rehearse the action scenes together. I remember him telling me about wanting to come to Thailand and I told him to go to Krabi because it's nice there. One time during rehearsal my kick landed on his face but he hugged me and said it's all OK. He said, 'We do this for our fans'. Today I still think of him when I make merit at the temple.
Ong-bak came out in 2001. Today people still remember you from it.
It's a masterpiece. It came out at such a perfect time when people wanted to see muay Thai in an action film. I mean there were muay Thai films before but nothing like that. It looked real, it's different, and it has everything in it to please action fans.
You've been in two big Hollywood films. Any plan to return to Thai films?
I love Thai films. Hollywood is like my school where I learn how to do things at a bigger level. It's like going from high school to university. I hope -- I pray -- there will be good Thai films like Ong-bak again soon.
