Thai celebrities Bella Ranee Campen and Bright Vachirawit are starring in the movie “Congrats My Ex!,” which will premiere on Prime Video on Nov. 16. 

In the film, Bella plays the role of Risa, the owner of a wedding planning company that is on the verge of going bankrupt.  

"Congrats My Ex!" (Prime Video) 

"Congrats My Ex!" stars (from left) Anahita Bhooshan, Bella Ranee Campen, Bright Vachirawit Chivaaree and Mahir Pandhi (Prime Video) 

Bella Ranee Campen (Prime Video) 

Bright Vachirawit (Prime Video) 

Anahita Bhooshan (Prime Video) 

Mahir Pandhi (Prime Video) 
 

Risa and her team have found a new task of organizing a wedding for an Indian couple in Thailand. However, the groom-to-be turns out to be Arun (Mahir Pandhi), who is Risa’s former boyfriend. 

She has not moved on from the failed relationship but needs to get the job done for the survival of her company. 

But when her photographer fails to come to work, Risa had to approach Tim (Bright), a photographer who is also her former boyfriend. 

The rollercoaster of feelings and romantic entanglements guarantees a delightful and entertaining journey.

In an interview with Manila Bulletin and other Southeast Asian media outlets, Bella and Bright talked about their chemistry on screen and off screen while filming “Congrats My Ex!” 

First impression, meeting

Bella and Bright revealed that they met for the first time about four to five years ago at an event and described their first impressions of each other. .

“First impression for me. I met her at an event. She is very popular. She is like a star here. Very popular. That is why I went to her and I asked for a photo. That’s the first time we met,” said Bright. 

Bella said, “Four, five years ago. He asked me for a photo.” 

Bright added, “She’s like a top-tier actress here. I look up to her. It’s my pleasure, it’s my honor to have a chance to work with you on this project “ 

“Thank  you, you’re sweet,” replied Bella. 

From the first time they met until they worked on “Congrats My Ex!,” Bright said his impression of her “changed a little bit.

“First time I met her, she was like. I felt like she was a star. We knew each other like we talked. She’s like normal people. She has so many sides. She’s funny, she’s playful, she’s friendly. It’s getting better, better everyday,” according to him. 

Bella said, “He was like keep cool all the time but he didn’t. You tried to. He’s funny though. A great time we worked together. 

“He’s a very good partner. Maybe another project. That’s fine,” she added to which he replied, “Yeah, stay tuned for it.”

Learning Indian customs

The two had to learn a lot about Indian wedding customs for the movie including spending days for rehearsals. 

“Many days for rehearsal. I think more than five days. Seven days. We worked so hard for that because I’m not a good dancer. I’m a terrible dancer. So for me I did a lot of sacrifice but I’m proud of myself that I could make it. It’s so hard but I’m happy with it,” said Bright. 

Bella said, “We did the fitting and we rehearsed like so many days. It’s not easy and the Bollywood team, or Indian team, in that production [helped us].”  

“They were so helpful. And they were so patient with me. For Indian customs, when we do a rehearsal, we wear like normal clothes, it’s easy, but when we wear Indian costumes, it’s like it’s harder to dance. We tried hard,” he added. 

Bella added, “They taught us a lot like Indian acting and dancing. It’s a really good experience. And my skirt was too heavy but it’s beautiful.” 

"Congrats My Ex!" (Prime Video) 

Their roles, staying friends with ex 

Bright and Bella were asked if their characters in “Congrats My Ex!” had similarities with their own selves. 

“I think for me and (my) team, we love to try new things. We love to have new experience. Apart from that, I think we have the same sense of humor,” said Bright of his role Tim. 

On playing Risa, Bella said, “For me and Risa, I think  the similarity is being clumsy. She’s clumsy but on another side, she’s a professional. And she’s funny, which she didn’t pretend to be.”

On being friends with his ex, Bright said, “I think it depends on how …. If it’s good, if we’re used to be friends, why not. We help them. For me, ex-girlfriend is like friend right now.” 

In real life, Bright is interested in photography but in the movie, it is his job. 

“In my real life, just my hobby, you know. But in this movie, I have to do it as a job. It’s harder. I think as a hobby, it’s fun. As a job, not very good,” he said. 

Working in “Congrats My Ex!” 

Working in “Congrats My Ex!” made Bright and Bella closer and gave them the chance to know each other. 

Bright praised Bella for being a good partner in the film. 

“Amazing, amazing. She’s a very good partner. Very good actress. We had so much fun working together and she’s a good sister. We shared many moments off the scene. She’s a good person. It’s my pleasure to know her,” he said of Bella. 

“Oh thank you. You’re sweet,” said Bella, feeling touched by his compliment and revealing that she was the one who requested that Bright to appear in the film. 

“Actually I requested Bright to be in this film because I wanna work with him. I saw his projects, all the projects. I think he suits this character. That’s the first start,” she said. 

She added, “After we worked, I feel like he’s like..he’s very good at what he is doing. He just like uses his heart to work, not his brain. And I feel it. I love it too. And now he’s become my real bro.”

Off camera, they said, they always teased each other. 

Birthday gifts 

Bright and Bella’s birthdays are just days apart. Bright’s birthday is on Dec. 27 while Bella’s is on Dec. 24. 

Based on their personalities, the two stars picked the gifts they want to give each other. 

“I would buy her carpet. Because she always tells me that … she’s clumsy. She makes the carpet dirty many times,” said Bright in jest.  

For Bella, “I’ll buy him a camera. You like to take photos.” 

Dream wedding 

The two were asked if they had their dream weddings.

For Bright, getting married is not a priority. 

“Honestly, wedding for me is not one of my … I’m not so into it. But I think my dream wedding would be the one that would make my girlfriend so happy. It’s up to her. Do what you want,” he said. 

Bella also said she does not “have a dream (wedding). But if I have one, maybe by the sea. Close friends and family.”

Doing for the rest of 2023

Bright and Bella became busy in 2023 with their careers. 

Bella said she wants to take a rest. 

“We did many things this year. Maybe just like — and take a rest,” she said. 

If he is given the chance, Bright wants to clean his house.  

“I wanna do big cleaning to my house. But I have no time for it. I wanna make everything clean again. And tidy, something like that,” according to him. 

Accepting the roles 

Being able to work in “Congrats My Ex!” gave Bright and Bella a whole new experience. 

“First I had the chance to try many things as I’ve told you. I have so many talents. I have to practice all of it. It’s a very good experience and I had the chance to work with talented people, professional crew. And I had the chance to gain new experience with Indian culture,” he said. 

Bella said, “For Risa it’s so complicated and also like crazy situation. I was interested to experience it with Risa. Also because the team was so professional and it’s a big experience to work with them. Also with the Indian team from Bollywood. It’s full of like great experience.”

“Congrats My Ex!” will be available on Prime Video on Nov. 16. 

Thai stars Bella Ranee Campen and Bright Vachirawit (Prime Video) Anahita Bhooshan  and Mahir Pandhi (Prime Video)