AJ RAVAL doesn’t mind being ranked as one of Viva’s Maximum Crush along with Jela Cuenca and Angeli Khang after their movie “Taya” became a really big hit. This even if she started much ahead of them with Viva and has already done lead roles.
“Okay lang kasi nagkasundo kaming tatlo while doing lockdown shooting ng ‘Taya’,” she says.
“After the shoot, tumatambay sila sa kuwarto ko at kuwentuhan kami. Parang pamilya na kami and I don’t mind doing more movies with them. At si Angeli dati ko nang kasama as members of a girl group kaya friends na kami talaga.”
How does it feel being Vivamax Crush ng Bayan?
“We’re happy kasi it gives meaning to our work. Ibig sabihin, nagustuhan ng tao ang trabaho namin and it means okay ang ginawa naming pagpapa-sexy sa ‘Taya’.”
So she doesn’t mind being called a sexy star?
“Hindi lang naman kami ang nagpapa-sexy ngayon, a. Maski sa social media at kahit sa Instagram and Tiktok, di ba lahat, nagpapa-sexy na? But sila, they do it just to gain likes, unlike us na ang pagpapa-sexy namin, it’s because part yun of our work as an actress.
"And we think the people appreciate naman our sexy movie kasi nga naging bit hit and for that, we’re thankful. But I wish they’d realize that we have other talents and hindi nagpapa-sexy lang.”
She just celebrated her birthday. What is her birthday wish?
“My wish is matapos na sana ang pandemyang ito, para maging safe at okay na tayong lahat. Last year, yung wish ko, nangyayari na ngayon, na sana mabigyan ako ng magandang break at mas makilala.
"Next, I want to try action naman and get the chance to work with my dad.”
We thought her dad does not approve of her going sexy?
“Before di lang niya ayaw akong magpa-sexy, ayaw niya ko talagang pumasok sa showbiz at all. Kasi ang gusto niya, magtapos ako ng pag-aaral.
"Umabot sa point na nagkatampuhan kami, di kami nag-uusap. But now he understands na and, ako rin, gusto ko pa ring magpatuloy sa pag-aaral at makapagtapos.
"Kasi at Grade 9, I stopped na sa school because of some family problems. So now I enrolled sa alternative learning system para later, makapasok ako sa college.”
She’s unattached now, having just broken up with her boyfriend. What’s the reason they split?
“Hindi niya matanggap ang career ko na nagpapa-sexy. Pinapili niya ako, so I chose my career, kasi if he really loved me, he would have understood and stayed with me. At this point, mas important for me ang career ko.”
So she’s now free to be in a relationship with Sean de Guzman?
“Yung friendship namin ni Sean, masaya kami, barkada talaga. Kunsakaling mauuwi to something more than that, okay lang naman kasi I can see na mabuti naman siyang tao. So bakit hindi?”
How does she deal with bashers?
“Wala akong pakialam sa kanila. When I was just starting, grabe atake nila sa’kin, sa appearance ko, sa galaw ko. Sabi nila, wala akong ka-class-class kung magsalita.
"Tinatanggap ko naman yun and I think tanggap din ng naman ng mga tao kasi, alam nila, wala akong pretensiyon. But honestly, I don’t listen to bashers anymore. Di na ko naaapektuhan sa kanila.”
Who among today’s actresses would she like to be her role model?
“Si Lovi Poe, kasi napakaganda niya, talented, smart and very classy. Ngayon, gagawa na ng movie sa ibang bansa.”
And who among today’s actors would she like to work with?
“Ok naman si Sean, but I want to try Aljur Abrenica. I worked with him na in ‘Nerisa’ but di kami ang magkapareha. Malakas kasi ang dating niya.”
How far will she go in going sexy on screen? Would she do full frontal nudity?
“Sana wag naman yung todo, kasi kaka-start ko pa lang. Wala naman sigurong aktres na gustong doon ka lang makilala ng tao.
"Ayoko ring umabot sa point na wala na akong ibang ipapakita sa viewers, kaya hindi ko kaya ang full frontal. Mas gusto kong makilala ako sa acting ko and someday win an acting award.”
What does she think is her difference from other sexy stars?
“Siguro yung sinasabing innocent look ko, at yung pagiging sweet ko on screen.”
What changes have happened in her life since she was given a starring role in “Gusto Ko Maging Pornstar?”
“First of all, I gained more self confidence kasi mahiyain ako before. Dati, introverted ako, now, more of an extrovert na. Naging maayos na rin ako sa time management because of my busy sked. Mas may direction na ang ginagawa ko sa araw-araw.”
