Kathniel: Thrill is still there

DANIEL Padilla thinks his tandem with Kathryn Bernardo is different from past love teams.

Teen star Daniel Padilla claimed that there was nothing violent nor criminal in his portrayal of a gang leader in his latest romantic film with Kathryn Bernardo, “She’s Dating the Gangster.”

“The word gangster can mean different things. It can mean a mob member. But our movie is about a group of friends whom Kathryn’s character Athena describes as maangas (cocky). There is nothing violent about them at all,” Padilla explained during the movie’s launch.

Padilla insisted that there was nothing in his personality that could be likened to a gangster. “I’m not a bully. I don’t disrespect women. Although may angas, I’m neither wild nor violent,” he said.

Bernardo, for her part, said she couldn’t imagine herself dating a gangster in real life. “I can’t go out with someone who cuts classes or is a war freak,” she pointed out. “I’m not being judgmental. If I see that a person has good intentions, though, I may still try to get to know him.”

The 18-year-old added: “I prefer someone who’s a cross between a gangster and a good guy—respectful, kind and loyal, but, at the same time, always ready to protect me.”

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, “She’s Dating the Gangster” is an adaptation of Bianca B. Bernardino’s best-selling novel of the same title. It sold over 70,000 copies on paperback and has over 600,000 readers on the online site Wattpad. The film opens on July 16.

No-camera date

Asked for his idea of a perfect date with Bernardo, Padilla volunteered: “When we’re together and there’s no camera, I already consider that a date. We share a lot of good memories together and I cherish them all.”

He said one of the most memorable experiences he’s had with Bernardo was a trip to the foot of Mayon Volcano in Albay province.

“We shot some scenes there for this movie. We rode an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) together. It was both our first time to see Mayon,” Padilla recalled.

Many firsts

For Bernardo, their thrilling experience at Skywalk X of the Macau Tower in Macau, China, was unforgettable. “Since we work together, I share lots of firsts with DJ (Padilla’s nickname). We’ve had several trips abroad. He’s the type of guy who will exert extra effort to make a girl feel special,” she said.

Asked to share the ups and downs of being Padilla’s leading lady, Bernardo said: “It’s something that I take very seriously. It means my bosses believe in my talent.”

Bernardo has been acting since 2003. “Being a leading lady gives me the chance to portray different and more challenging characters. It gives me the opportunity to do things that I can never do in real life.”

Padilla said of their love team: “Kathniel is not like other tandems we’ve seen in the past. We know that our idols didn’t become successful just because of their good looks. They all had patience and dedication.”

Padilla added: “Right now, Kathryn and I are busier than ever … After doing four movies with her, the excitement is still there.”

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