Tep Rindaro, Sky high ambition
01-May-2008

Friendly heartthrob Tep Rindaro has led a colourful life. The 44-year-old has overcome family expectations and economic hardships to become one of the Kingdom’s most famous film stars.

Born and raised in Battambang by his teacher father and nurse mother, Rindaro said he has been obsessed with films since infancy, though it was an interest frowned upon by his parents.

As a young boy, Rindaro would sneak a look at the family television in the dead of night against his dad’s orders. In his mind, he always imagined himself as a film star.

“My father was a strict man who never allowed me to see too many films because he thought that my schoolwork would suffer because I would be too sleepy,” Rindaro recalled, absent-mindedly fingering the trademark mole on his chin. “However, I still spent my nights quietly watching films.”

“If I didn’t battle the obstacles, I would not have become a film star and would not be famous as I am today,” he said quietly, staring down at his breakfast.

Suddenly seeming shy, he said his neighbour used to smuggle him to the local cinema. “When I was young … I never bought a ticket. You know, when I saw an old person enter the cinema, I would just hold their hand so the cinema guard thought I was helping one of my family.”

After his frequent trips to the cinema, Rindaro said he would practice the actors’ gestures and mannerisms in a mirror.

Rindaro breaks into a wide grin as the subject changes to aeronautical mechanics, a field he was involved in for many years.

 “I only wanted to be a plane mechanic for my parents,” he said, laughing and running a quick hand through his hair. “I changed from plane mechanic to actor because I strongly felt I had natural talent.”   

“In fact, I loved films since I was young, but I had no chance to get involved. My father wanted me to try and study to be a doctor. You know, it was really hard to decide at that time; when we are children, we must obey our parents.  So I worked hard until I got a scholarship to study plane repair in Russia. However my mind was still focused on the field of film; I wanted to be an actor.”

Three years of studies in Russia (1981-84) qualified Rindaro as plane mechanic, but he still felt unfulfilled and continued his pilgrimages to the cinema. In 1984 he returned from Russia but found to his chagrin Phnom Penh’s Pochentong Airport was too small for the Russian behemoths he had learned to fix. Only neighbouring Vietnam could offer him employment.

After working in Vietnam for 3 years, Rindaro returned to Cambodia in 1987, working at the newly expanded Pochentong Airport for the next two years. By 1989 the call of the silver screen became too strong: the 24-year-old Rindaro left his job to try to become a movie star.

“I don’t even want to talk about my first time acting in a movie!” he said bursting into laughter. “I didn’t get any money because the film producer told me he would pay me later. I still haven’t gotten my salary from him! My first film was not popular … [but] I became a famous with my second film – Ark Kambang Keach Sanya [The Secret Promise] produced by Ses Vong Setha and with the actress Apor Tevy.”

This first flush of success was tinged with tragedy. “While I was working on my first film, my father passed away. My mother did not know I was now an actor. You know, she was so surprised when she saw my photo at the cinema, though she said nothing.”
Rindaro capitalised on his initial popularity, working hard to stand out from the crowd. He received royal award certificates from King Norodom Sihamoni on May 1st 2005 and from former King Norodom Sihanouk on May 16th 2006. A certificate of honour calling him a “hero of film” was awarded by the Ministry of Culture on April 5th, 2005.

As his fame grows, Rindaro says he is happy to enjoy the fruits of his labours “I never thought I would be here,” he smiled. “I think I will never stop working as a film star. I will work in this field as long as I am able because I love films like my own life.”

May Titthara
Photos by Heng Chivoan

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