Tony Jaa,elephant man

It's been more than three years since Thai action hero Thatchakorn "Tony Jaa" Yeerum embarked on his new career as a director.

He started filming "Ong Bak 2" late in 2006 but more than a year later was said to be facing problems on location as well as enormous budget overruns. He decided the story was too complex to tell over two hours and that "Ong Bak 2" should be extended into "Ong Bak 3". And of course, there were the well-reported troubles faced by Jaa both in his work and his personal life. During the filming, he disappeared from the film set amid rumours that he'd become obsessed with the superstitious power he'd researched for the story. But finally he returned to finish the film with the support of Sahamongkol Film's owner Somsak "Sia Jiang" Techarattanaprasert and "Ong Bak 2" was finally released in 2008 with an ending that both surprised and upset the audience. It did reasonably well, taking Bt100 million at the box office, though the budget had exceeded Bt350 million.

Now, after a year of further filming, "Ong Bak 3" will complete the story. It begins just after Tien (Tony Jaa) has lost his fighting skills and his beloved stepfather. He gets help from childhood friend Pim (actress Primrata Dechudom) as well as Mhen (comedian Petchai "Mum Jokmok" Wongkamlao) and finally achieves "Nattayut" with help from the monk Phra Bua (Nirut Sirijanya).

Here, he talks frankly about the new movie.

Did you have any problems with this project?

When we decided to do the sequel, we had to do more on the script, change and add locations and design more action choreography. An action film needs more work and we have to be well prepared for a sequence that involves shooting among a herd of elephants.

We had problems while shooting in Surin. Our location was at Prasat Ta Muan and it was during the time of Thailand's dispute with Cambodia. We had to clear out when the military took control of the area.

Can you elaborate on your new action design?

In "Ong Bak 2", I combined all the martial arts for Tien's character, so we have to think of something new for this part. We've also brought in swords and clubs to add to the Nattayut moves we introduced in "Ong Bak 2". Nattayut transforms the dancing poses of khon into a martial art.

I've also added more risky scenes by fighting inside an elephant herd. In "Ong Bak 2", Diaw [Chupong Changprung] and I have an action scene with two elephants. This time, we are among more than 20 elephants and we use more than 200 extras. It took 10 takes for us to get this scene right.

Training for the elephants and the 200 extras was very important. We had to postpone due to the rutting period and we had to familiarise the elephants with our body odour.

Nattayut is already in "Ong Bak 2", isn't it?

There's only an introduction to it. We haven't yet depicted the moves in detail.

For me, Nattayut is a dharma martial art that can protect our soul from bad deeds. It is a kind of meditation that can heal our heart and soul.

When you are working as both director and actor, does it change your perspective?

As an actor, I get the script and play the role. As a director, I have to work on every scene's details and communicate with a lot of people on the set, so that broadens my idea and helps me to create the better character when I play the role.

After "Ong Bak 3", do you have any plans in mind?

I'd love to do something new and different. I love movies and martial arts. So it could be anything, action with comedy or romance or like James Bond. Who knows?

Sia Jiang says that he has a plan for you to work with Donnie Yen. When will it happen?

It is the next step but we haven't settled anything. In fact, it's been talked about since "Ip Man". The second part is due to come out [on April 29] but I was in the middle of shooting "Ong Bak 3", so may be next time.

Who do you want to work with exactly?

Many people. I'd love to work with my childhood hero Jackie Chan and also Jet Li.

You're 33 now. Does your age change anything about how you play action roles?

I'm still doing my own stunts even though I have a few problems with my body. In the future, I might work behind the scenes as a director, action choreographer.

Will you continue to make Thai films or seek international projects?

Maybe it's time to go international. But I need to consider the script first. I'll still make Thai films because I have plenty ideas about bringing muay thai, our culture, to the screen. International projects might have limitations in that we can't do what we want.

While making "Ong Bak 2" and "Ong Bak 3", you faced troubles both in work and your personal life, What do you think about it now?

This project is like tough karma that I have had to pay. But I've got through it finally. The obstacles are a good lesson and it's helped me to know how to live my life.

How much have you changed since you became a star?

At heart, I'm still the upcountry boy who dreams of being the action star. The difference is that not only do I have a passion for stunt work, now I also think of new ideas for action choreography. In my personal life, the first time my reputation caught up with me, I felt tense and worried. Now I feel free and more relaxed about life.

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- "Ong-Bak 3" opens in cinemas on May 5.