The PrimeCast WITH PUNPUN program opens up. "Billkin Puttipong" without holding back, he reflects on his childhood dependence on a nanny and his extremely willful behavior, including experiences of working so hard he once had to receive an injection directly into his vocal cords. He discusses managing burnout, caring for both body and mind, and shares his safe zones and ways to recharge on tiring days.
Where does the name "Eeyaw" come from?
Billkin: That's a name given to me before I was born. In my family, names follow a Disney theme. My eldest sibling is named Mickey, the second is Winnie, and initially, before I was born, I was going to be named Eeyaw. But they changed it to Billkin when I was born.
Were you dependent on a nanny as a child?
Billkin: Yes, when I was young, I was with my nanny all day, every day. So, I would see my parents mainly in the mornings and evenings. During kindergarten and primary school, I was very attached to the nanny.
What was life like as a child?
Billkin: I ate three normal meals a day and grew up in a typical way. I stayed at home with the nanny, and my parents would spend time with me from evening to night. My parents liked to send me to various classes—sports, music, and extra lessons all the time—like taekwondo, clay modeling, computer classes, English, football, badminton, table tennis, bowling, and swimming.
Did you learn singing as a child?
Billkin: Yes, I learned singing. I enjoyed it. It was one of the few activities I really wanted to keep attending. Other classes felt a bit forced; I preferred to stay home. But singing was something I missed during breaks and then returned to.
You have a big extended family and have even rented out a cinema for them?
Billkin: Yes, that's true. I have relatives on many sides—my father's side, my mother's side, and within those, grandparents and other branches. When there's a big event, my dad, who is very social, invites lots of relatives from everywhere. When the group gets large, he likes to rent out a cinema for private movie screenings.
Why don’t you cut your hair?
Billkin: I’m not sure. I didn’t plan to grow it long seriously. But when I went to study abroad, I didn’t cut it for 3-4 months, and it grew longer than I’d had before. There’s a phase when hair is in between—not short, not long—and it felt like I had to get through that to have long hair. I wasn’t working during that time, so when I came back, it started settling into shape. I’d never had long hair before because I attended an all-boys school and military training, and even in university I never had long hair. I thought I’d try having shoulder-length hair once. It almost reached the back before I cut it back shorter on the sides. I liked the new look, and when I have free time, brushing my hair makes me feel good.
How do you take care of yourself nowadays?
Billkin: I eat well, focusing on sufficient protein and paying attention to my diet. I don’t strictly control everything but try to avoid bad food, sugary or greasy items. I eat protein in adequate amounts and moderate carbs. I sleep well and exercise. That’s basically it. Mental health is also important.
What kind of exercise do you do regularly?
Billkin: My routine includes weight training and cardio. Sometimes friends invite me to play badminton or football, which I join occasionally.
Have you always had this body type?
Billkin: About this, yes. I’m not heavily built in arms or legs. As a kid, I was chubby with a bit of a belly. My weight has stayed around the low to mid-60 kilograms since about grade 8 or 9. It doesn’t fluctuate much, usually staying between 60 and 70 kg. I think this is fine as long as I’m healthy.
How do you take care of your mental health?
Billkin: As I’ve grown up, I’ve realized I’m quite attached to my family and close friends I grew up with. Just taking time to be with them helps me recharge. For example, recently a friend got a new dog, and I spend time at their house. Being in a home environment with lots of relatives and meeting friends allows me to rest and recover quickly.
Are you an introvert?
Billkin: I only became one as I grew older. As a child, I loved meeting people, enjoyed holidays, and liked making plans to do activities. But in the last 1-2 years, I’ve preferred staying home more.
Is this related to interacting with many people at work?
Billkin: There are many people, but not more than before. I simply enjoy being at home more now.
What do you choose to do on your days off?
Billkin: If I have a whole day free, I exercise. If I have a bit of free time, I visit a clinic for some skincare and then go home. That’s about it.
Do you recharge on days off by being alone at home?
Billkin: I’m not alone at home. The nanny who’s cared for me since birth is there, so I spend time talking with her, playing with the dog, then in the evening I have dinner with my grandparents. At night, I spend an hour or two chatting with my parents. During the day, I watch movies. I feel happy just being at home.
Were you a very willful child?
Billkin: As a kid, definitely. I was the youngest and very willful.
Any naughty stories you’ll never forget?
Billkin: Not much about work. Since joining Nadao, I’ve generally followed the rules and done what I’m told. I’ve been a good kid.
What about as a child?
Billkin: I was very willful, meaning stubborn. For example, if I wanted a snack that could only be bought at the school gate but it was Sunday and the shop was closed, my mom would have to find it somewhere else. I could cry for 4-5 or 6 hours. I was hot-tempered too. I remember in kindergarten, I once swept things off the table and knocked the table over. I was very willful as a child.
What helped you calm down?
Billkin: I remember one day my parents didn’t hit me but called me to talk. They asked if I knew what I did wrong and why it was bad. We talked, and they said, "Okay, just don’t do it again." That made me think differently. After that, I stopped being so willful. They repeated this approach several times, switching from punishment to teaching me to think and reason. Since then, I rarely do anything that doesn’t make sense. Over time, I matured.
For the movie "Nangma," how much weight did you lose for the role?
Billkin: About 8-9 kilograms over around 3-4 months. It was quite a lot. I started with cardio because I was lazy with cardio before. When weight loss plateaued, I increased cardio and cut out carbs, eating mostly protein and vegetables, plus extra cardio. When you do one thing, the weight loss stalls at some point, so you have to increase intensity to continue losing.
Did it affect your mood?
Billkin: Not much, just hunger. I wasn’t angry, but felt a bit dizzy because I avoided sugar and ate very little carbs—just one bowl of rice a day.
Did someone supervise you?
Billkin: I talked with a trainer who didn’t want me to be thin without muscle, so he stopped me from weight training and focused on cardio only. I got a bit skinny.
Have you had misunderstandings about health?
Billkin: Many. At one point, I tried to lose weight quickly by hardly eating all day and only eating a salad during high school. I lost about 1 kg per day, nearly 7-8 kg in two weeks, but it was very hard. After eating normally for a week, I gained back twice as much. I kept trying this yo-yo method but couldn’t keep the weight down. I remember watching an interview where an actor said for roles requiring weight loss, he only ate one cup of Greek yogurt a day. I tried that too; it worked but was miserable and made me dizzy. After finishing, the weight bounced back. I repeated this cycle 2-3 times. Now, I have a trainer to help.
As a singer, how do you care for your voice?
Billkin: The most important thing is sleep. If I sleep poorly, I notice my voice is weak, like I have no breath support. The sound comes out but can crackle, hoarsen, or be off tone. I have to use more effort. But if I get 8 to 10 hours of sleep, my voice is good when I wake up.
What is your sleeping routine like?
Billkin: There were times I slept only 3-4 hours for several days in a row. When I was in my early 20s, I didn’t see it as a big problem. If I slept poorly for five days, I could recover with one good night's sleep. Now it’s reversed; one night of poor sleep takes three full days to recover. I try to plan to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep.
Have you ever had a sore throat or lost your voice before big concerts or events?
Billkin: Frequently. When I’m under-rested and have to keep singing, sometimes I see a doctor and get an injection directly into my vocal cords. About 6-7 hours later, my voice recovers about 50%, enough to get through the day. Doctors say you should only do this once every 1-2 years.
How many times a year do you get this injection?
Billkin: This is the first time this year. Other times, they say injections can go into the buttocks instead. But injections directly into the vocal cords shouldn’t be frequent. Sometimes I get buttock injections or take medication if it’s not urgent. Lately, I’ve been taking fewer jobs and singing less often.
If you had to choose between singing and acting, which would you pick?
Billkin: I can’t choose; I love both. They’re fun in different ways, like football and badminton. It’s hard to compare. I feel that no matter what I do—singing or acting—there comes a point when I experience burnout. Not that I want to stop, but I want to do something else. When acting a lot, I get bored with the routine and want to meet people, camp with friends, record songs, write music, and promote. Then I get bored with that pattern and want to return to acting or try other work. Staying in one type of work too long drains my passion.
Is that why you chose to study abroad in England?
Billkin: Partly, I wanted a break and also wanted to try living abroad for a year. It was something new for me because before, I studied here with my family and never lived independently. I felt if I didn’t go now, it might be my last chance since if I waited until my late 20s, none of my friends would go with me. Going now, I have 2-3 friends with me, so it wouldn’t be lonely. I had already completed my solo concert and finished filming "Nangma," so I felt I had fulfilled some goals and wanted to do this next. It was a good opportunity.
How was your year in England?
Billkin: Although it was a year, I returned home often. It was good; it felt like changing my life’s pace. There, I slept 10 hours or more daily, going to bed around midnight and waking around noon or 1 pm. I didn’t do much besides attending classes, doing university assignments, reports, meetings here and there, walking, cooking, shopping. It wasn’t stressful; I had more time to relax my mind.
So, you got a break but had to study hard?
Billkin: Yes, I had to study, but the schedule had its rhythm. Midterms meant focusing on assignments for 2-3 weeks before deadlines. Since I didn’t have many other commitments, I could fully focus on one task all day, then take breaks for coffee or cooking, then resume. It was relaxed with no intense pressure. I had 2-3 meetings a week and just answered messages otherwise. The rest was chill and comfortable.
After your master’s degree, will you pursue a doctorate?
Billkin: No, I won’t.
Are you a sensitive person?
Billkin: Very. Before, if someone shouted at me, I would cry—not out of fear but because it just came out. It could be about family, love, or animals. I feel deeply connected.
Are you emotional?
Billkin: To some extent, in certain ways.
If someone touches on a sensitive topic in your life, can you cry?
Billkin: It depends on the topic and who is speaking.
Do you cry during concerts?
Billkin: Sometimes.
How do those emotions come out?
Billkin: Sometimes it’s about being on stage and seeing the audience. It feels unbelievable that so many people want to hear me sing. Or when singing songs that have deep meaning to me, emotions arise naturally. There are many contexts that bring tears.
Do you have a safe zone person you call for encouragement?
Billkin: I have several, but it depends on the issue. For some matters, I talk to family; for others, close friends. At work, I have managers or company people I know I can safely talk to. Life has many sides, so I choose who to discuss what with—those who truly understand the topic.
How has working in the entertainment industry shaped who you are today?
Billkin: I’ve grown a lot in every aspect—more responsible, better self-aware, and calmer. I’m not sure if it’s because of work, age, or a change in life’s pace, but I feel more mindful. Overall, I’ve matured in both work and life.
How do you see your future in the entertainment industry?
Billkin: I just want to keep doing what I enjoy, staying in a momentum where I’m happy doing what I want, with people I want to work with. That’s enough. I don’t feel the need to measure success by a specific goal. I feel I’ve already exceeded my dreams, and everything from now on is a bonus.
How was it to sing recently with Bird?
Billkin: It was great. I’ve listened to his songs since I was a kid and never imagined I’d be his main guest, singing nearly 10 songs with him and rehearsing together. Seeing his attitude was inspiring. It was a great experience professionally and personally rewarding.
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