Bank Athit Takes On First BL Series Without Pressure

Young actor Bank Athit Tung Vibulyapanich is stepping into his first BL series without hesitation, taking on the role of Ing in the romantic-drama "Fool in Love," adapted from a hugely popular novel. To fully commit to the character, Bank lost 8 kilograms in a single month. The series is produced by iQIYI Original and premieres July 3, 2025.

At a blessing ceremony held at Union Mall on July 3, 2025, Bank explained his decision to take on the role. "Acting is acting, whether it's a drama, film, or BL series," he said. "The decision wasn't difficult at all."

When asked if being a BL series gave him pause initially, Bank admitted, "At first, maybe I was a bit shy. But not anymore, especially after we did workshops together. When you actually play the role, it's no different from anything I've done before. It's just a character with scenes and emotions."

Bank revealed that he had received other offers to act in BL productions before, but this script felt different. "I've had people approach me about casting in other projects, but after reading the scripts, I didn't feel they were right for me. But with this story, the character Ing just resonated with me. I felt like I could really bring something meaningful to it, so I wanted to take this role."

He emphasized that all actors receive such offers: "Every actor gets contacted for BL, GL, and other projects. It's not about that—it's about whether the script is right. All actors can play anything. Acting doesn't differentiate between genres anymore."

When asked what he liked about Ing, Bank said, "I understand why fans of the novel love this character so much. The character has a lot of charm. Does he feel pressured? Everyone feels pressure, but I try to help the other actors relax as much as possible. I want them to let go of that stress, because if we can't relax, our performance suffers. I keep telling them, 'Don't stress too much, just relax.'"

Bank works closely with his co-stars, offering guidance without imposing his own acting style. "I want them to grow as actors in their own way, not become copies of me. I guide them but don't direct them too heavily," he explained.

He has developed a close bond with the cast through their constant work together on set and in activities. Bank has also done his homework, reading the source novel twice to understand the character and respect the expectations of fans. "Fans already have their vision of who Ing is, so I read the novel twice and gave it my all in the adaptation. At first, the other actors were nervous, but I told them not to worry. Remember how everyone had expectations for the new Harry Potter films? We made sure to do it justice, and we'll do the same here. We're committed, and we won't betray the characters."