Maja ready for Paulo romance rumors

Maja Salvador

Pardon actress Maja Salvador if the question has lost all sense of urgency by now.

It’s certainly not the first time she is being linked to her leading man, so she’s used to the prying queries—this time, involving Paulo Avelino, her partner in the coming romantic-comedy, “I’m Drunk, I Love You.”

“That cannot be avoided,” she conceded, in an interview with the Inquirer. “It’s part of our industry. You can’t hide anything in show biz.”

She asserted that she is totally comfortable working with Paulo, who was her costar on both the big (“Status: It’s Complicated”) and small (“Bridges of Love”) screens.

“With Paulo, what you see is what you get,” she quipped. “I always enjoy hanging out with him. I can say that he is my favorite leading man. He’s really special and easy to work with.”

Maja recounted that she always looked forward to reporting to work—primarily, because of the good vibes and breezy rapport among the cast and crew, led by debuting director JP Habac.

“It was JP’s first time to direct, but that was actually more of an advantage [than a liability],” she pointed out. “Each artist is different. But I am happy I got to work with someone so young and inspired. It was refreshing.”

She explained that the film was a “passion project” for the youthful filmmaker.

Engrossed for years

“He knows the script inside and out,” she volunteered. “He knows every line, every character… the continuity. This script is his baby. He has been so
engrossed by this story for years.”

Produced by the same team behind “Heneral Luna” (Tuko, Buchi Boy and Artikulo Uno), the romantic musical-comedy tells the story of college buddies as they embark on life’s biggest adventure, venturing into the grown-up world post-graduation.

Although she never had the chance to attend college, she insisted she could relate with her character’s travails and tribulations.

“At least, I was able to experience college life through this film,” she noted. “I was able to see what students go through.”

And yes, she got to survive getting soused for the flick.

Paulo Avelino and Maja Salvador

“Here, lasengga ako (I’m a drunk),” she admitted. “I got to undergo that, too, in this movie.”
Even though she had already read the script, she still got “goosies” on the set.

“I already knew what would happen next, but I was still caught by surprise by the movie,” she admitted.

She hopes the audience will be pleasantly surprised by the film, as well—particularly by her solo song, “Huling Gabi,” composed by poet and spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo.

“It’s my first time to sing in a movie,” she enthused.

“I’m Drunk, I Love You” opens in theaters on Feb. 15.