To find someone to play the role of Nong Toom, director and producer Ekachai Uekrongtham held nation-wide auditions across four regions of Thailand over several months. More than 300 people from 40 provinces were short-listed. Eventually, it was Asanee Suwan (nicknamed Art), a 22-year-old professional kickboxer from Chiangmai province who clinched the role.

One of the country's top kickboxers, Art has fought in more than 180 matches in Thailand and Denmark, and has won in most of them. Ranked No. 5 by the World Muay Thai Council in the 118 pound category, he was also named the Best Boxer by the Association of Muay Thai for the Northern Region in 2001.




Art spent more than a year preparing for the role. He attended acting classes conducted by Uekrongtham, learnt ballet, studied the intricate Likay (traditional Thai street opera) movements under the tutelage of Thailand's National Artist Boonlert Najpanich, and went through a personality enhancement course designed to groom beauty queens. He was also required to adhere to strict skin and body care regimes, and had to lose substantial amount of weight and muscles before filming commenced for several key scenes.