In The Bachelor Indonesia we follow Indonesian heartthrob, Richard Kyle, as he seeks his one true love. The emotionally charged reality series promises drama, romance, and rivalry, as 19 charismatic and talented women compete for the affections of one of Indonesia’s most eligible men.
In this Goggler exclusive, we had the chance to sit down for an extended conversation about his experiences on the latest incarnation of the world’s most popular reality TV show.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Nick Dorian: Richard, we already live our lives more publicly than ever before. The Bachelor puts some of our most intimate decisions out for public consumption. How long did you have to think about this before actually saying “yes?”
Richard Kyle: That’s a good question. When I got the opportunity, or was offered the role of being The Bachelor Indonesia, I obviously went straight to my parents and my family to talk about it. I’ve never done reality. It’s not my world. So this would be a first for me. So after much discussion and conversations with the team at HBO, Warner Brothers, and Fremantle, they convinced me that I was the right subject to be The Bachelor Indonesia. They believed in me as the right persona to lead this program. After that, I was more enticed by the idea and realized that it was an opportunity of a lifetime. So why not give it a shot and make the most of it?
ND: We find out about your mixed parentage in the first episode. Was there any family pressure to settle down? How do they feel about doing this in such a public manner?
RK: There was never really any pressure from my family. My sister’s married and she’s got a three year old who I absolutely adore. Finally, after COVID, I was able to meet Gianna, my niece, and honestly, she’s like my world. I love spending time with her and watching her grow up. So I think my mum could see that the uncle/fatherly role came naturally.
My mom says that when is it your turn, when do you get your chance, make sure it’s the right one for you. So for my mom, she was supportive in terms of being able to give this a shot and have it be a chance at meeting that special person.
Coming from such a diverse upbringing, from two different worlds, I think we’re a very open minded family. And I think my parents are very much proud of where my career is and where I stand. And I think they just believe that destiny and fate will just follow through at some point in my life.
Indonesia Represent!
ND: Given that this is The Bachelor Indonesia, I’m sure there was some cultural considerations and sensitivities that came to play while shooting it. Could you talk to us about that?
RK: I think representing Indonesia as this exotic place to shoot was already showcasing its uniqueness. We get to see Indonesian culture from the very start in relation to my family. Again, my parents, and my brother, and my sister were involved as well. By making it that intimate at the very start shows my values and morals are very much connected to my family. So that makes a statement on what’s important to me.
The Bachelor, Indonesia also puts me in certain events and scenarios that complement my personality. It also tests a lot of the ladies out there to see if they match the criteria that I look for in a partner.
I think that culturally it’s a great connection and a great template to do something in Bali. It’s also shot with a lot of representation which the audience can relate to. What’s more, there’s also a connection in terms of it being a lifestyle to strive for. This is a lifestyle that I wish and dream for as well. So maybe people can get something of that from me.
ND: We are introduced to all 19 ladies in the first episode. They are a very unique, interesting, and beautiful looking batch of ladies. As these shows go, there is definitely going to be a lot of drama. And we saw some of that in the first episode. How do you even begin to maintain the peace and handle all these 19 characters?
RK: So my job is to maintain the peace. I definitely have a lot to handle because I have group dates, and single dates, and surprises here and there. And there are many, many events throughout the show.
Now I don’t live in the bachelorette villa. I have my my own villa that’s very, very far away from them. So there is there’s a lot of handling from the production side. There are plenty of people who are very much committed to making sure my wellbeing, my health, and my stamina is always top notch for the next day of shooting.
To be honest, I haven’t got as far as you to watching the show. I know what I did, but I don’t know what was captured. Because obviously there are moments where I’m there with girls and there are interactions when I’m not. So I don’t know what happens when I’m not there.
But with respects to me, going on dates with all these different ladies was absolutely eventful and fulfilling.
ND: *laughs*Oh my. Well this is going to be an interesting watch for you now.
RK: *laughs* You’re spoiling it for me now since you’ve already seen it.
Lights, Camera, Affection
ND: I think that brings up a good question. This is reality TV. You know that you’re being filmed at every which angle. How long did it take for you to forget that the cameras were there? Or were you still very conscious of their presence the whole time?
RK: So I was really guided to very much ignore the cameras from the start. That was the biggest advice from the director and producers. The first day was very nerve wracking. Meeting Oka Antara as the host. He made me nervous. I know Oka. I’ve worked with him. We’ve been on film together. We’ve been on sitcom together. I know him as a friend. But he made me nervous. He’s looking at me going, “Why are you nervous?” And I was like, “Look at what’s going on around me.”
So I was really very much on edge in terms of having 20 cameras there on the first day. And they needed that many cameras for the first day because there’s so many angles they need to capture, and different spots for the ladies as well. So I think the first day wasn’t that comfortable. I also had to use a lot of energy to to be in the moment, and awake, and concentrating, and focused on these ladies every time they walk through.
So I had to adapt on that first day. But the second day I just forgot about them. The first day was definitely a new experience. It was a whole new world with all eyes on me. So it definitely felt weird. But as soon as that passed, I forgot about it and was just being myself the whole time. I didn’t have to worry. I didn’t have to be nervous.
ND: Given that you started to forget that there were cameras all around you, was there anybody that sort of guided you in not doing anything that might be considered a bit naughty or troublesome?
RK: No. Because it was all in my hands. When you shoot reality, they allow any events to unfold as they would. Anything can happen. for anything to happen, anything can happen. There’s drama from the start. I’m sure there’s drama ahead. They allow that to happen. But there are protocols involved where they would take me out of situations if anything got out of hand. Luckily, there was none of that.
ND: We were talking about Oka Antara earlier. How did it feel working with him as a host for this show?
RK: It felt great. We know each other well. And I believe he brings something else to the table. This is not a spoiler, but he knew the questions he had to ask me throughout the shoot. He’s like, “I’m just going to say stuff that I is relatable and real.” He knew his job. And because he knew me, he could go a bit off track and just see how it goes. He felt he could bring something to the table that was much more immersive and personal to our relationship. I respect him for that.
Magic Moments
ND: The Bachelor is famous all over the world. It’s a staple of television. What were your expectations going into this?
RK: We know that this franchise is renowned. It’s definitely a benchmark. And knowing that this franchise will be made by HBO Asia as an Original Series, was to me, just something cool. You know, after a lot of convincing, I think I saw the vision, and I related to what they want to create. I could see how it related to my lifestyle, and how we could entice the audience to get to know me better and what I was looking for in life.
ND: Was there any particular moment that you feel you can’t wait to see onscreen?
RK: Definitely. I think the dates and activities that I did with these ladies definitely left a mark. Definitely made me feel like I can wait to see them again. I often wonder how I’ll react when I see those moments again. There are always mixed feelings. And I think that’s the challenge with doing a program like this. Stamina and energy is so important to actually make sure you’re making the right decisions, to make sure you’re taking in all they’re saying, and actually caring about it. It’s important to put them first and make sure it’s not always just about your pitch.
I often wonder if I made them feel something of a connection of more than just friends? There were so many aspects that made me feel like, “Wow, like that was really cool.” And I didn’t expect that to happen.
What’s more, with the production value that HBO brought to this production, there was always a wow factor in everything we did. So again, connecting back to Indonesian culture, connecting back to activities that I love to do, even some activities I’ve never done before, I was enticed and absolutely energized throughout the whole shooting process.
Every Rose Has It’s Thorn
ND: You have to whittle down 19 ladies to just one that you are going to possibly spend the rest of your life with. It’s a huge decision. How do you even begin to do that? What’s your thought process in trying to narrow it down?
RK: Actually, I should say that it’s not me whittling down. It’s them telling me how I need to process each and every stage. As you know, The Bachelor Indonesia has a rose ceremony throughout certain episodes that I have to go through, whether I want to or not. The ladies have a choice too. And they have to either accept or reject. So it’s about finding those ladies that I have the most common interest and connection with. It all starts from a spark, and that spark has to become a flare, and hopefully build into something bigger. So for me, it’s just making sure I choose the right ones that have that spark, so I can keep that going, until it dwindles down to the last flame.
ND: One last question before I let you go. It’s more of a personal question. But you you gave a rose to Anita in the first episode. And the first and the first time we saw Anita, she came with an incredibly beautiful dog named Rocky. Will I get to see more of Rocky as the season progresses?
RK: Can I tell you something? Rocky was smart. She knew where to hit me in the heart. Rocky was that special little addition that made everything wholesome. Unfortunately, you’re just going to have to watch to see what happens. But I can tell you I was very much smitten by her gift for her beautiful family member. I’m a dog lover. So Rocky was adorable in every way.
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