RITZ AZUL was chided for having a specially prominent billing in “Separados”. Someone said it’s because the director, GB Sampedro, is her boyfriend. “Ay, hindi po,” she says. “Hindi totoo yan. Wala po kaming relasyon.”
We’re told it’s her home network, TV5, which requested that their contract star be given billing importance since this is her very first movie, so she’s billed as “Introducing”. “I’m really so happy and proud na ito ang naging first movie ko kasi ang ganda ng role ko as Ricky Davao and Melissa Mendez’ daughter na sa wedding day, doon pa mare-reveal na bading ang daddy ko,” she says. “Tapos, puro magagaling ang mga kasama ko like Alfred Vargas, Jason Abalos, Anjo Yllana, Diana Zubiri, Victor Neri at marami pang iba. Kaya na-challenge talaga ako to give my best para hindi naman ako mapahiya sa kanila. Also, entry ito sa Cinemalaya on its 10th year so memorable talaga. I also want to thank Direk GB Sampedro for guiding me, kasi I have to adjust my acting from TV to film na ibang discipline naman.”
So what's the real score between her and Direk GB? “Lumalabas kami, pero laging kasama ang parents ko. Mabait siya, gentleman, maasikaso sa artista niya. But I already told him na sa ngayon, gusto ko munang mag-focus sa career ko. I’m thankful to him na kinuha niya ko for the film at natulungan niya talaga ko sa acting ko, but like what I told dun sa iba pang nanligaw sa’kin, NBSB ako, no boyfriend since birth and at this point, I want it to stay that way. Ayoko munang mag-boyfriend.”