ANGELI KHANG plays the most challenging role in her career in “Bela Luna”, where she plays dual roles.
“Yes, I play two different characters,” she says. “One is Bel and the other one is Luna.
"It’s a movie with two different stories about two different women who are connected with each other, much more than it seems.
"And of course, I cannot just reveal how they’re really connected as it will be a very big spoiler.”
She plays a character in the movie so different from anything she did before.
“Most of my past movies, laging sad, laging inaapi ako, but here, as Bela, I’m portraying a strong character na hindi inaapi. She’s woman empowered so it’s something new for me.”
As Luna, she is a teacher in the province who has an abusive husband, Abe (Julio Diaz), who is about twice her age and from whom her family owes a lot.
Often physically and sexually abused by Abe, Luna longs for the day when she finally gets to be free from him.
Luna’s suffering from Abe finally had a chance of ending when she meets Mark Anthony Fernandez as Diego, who she meets when he takes her hostage while being pursued by cops.
It was a most unusual situation but Diego changes her life and makes her more passionate about love.
Bela is a liberated city girl who lives in with her boyfriend Kiko Estrada as Arnold.
Together, they are working on a special project which soon puts their relationship on the rocks because of Bela’s very strong personality.
When their paths finally cross, the lives of Bela and Luna will change forever.
Produced by Viva Films, written by National Artist Ricky Lee and directed by Mac Alejandre, get to know Bela and Luna as their stories ignite the screen in “Bela Luna”, which streams exclusively on Vivamax starting on January 27, 2023.
In the movie’s presscon, Angeli is introduced as the Queen of Vivamax as all her past films like “Silip sa Apoy”, “Mahjong Nights” and “Selina’s Gold” all became number one.
How does she feel about it?
“Naku, ayokong isipin or i-claim. Basta ang lagi ko lang iniisip, I just have to do my best in every project they give me.
"Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa Viva kasi tuloy-tuloy lang ang movies ko, which is a blessing kasi gusto ko pa mag-grow in every project that I do. Hindi naman ako mahilig sa titles na queen ng kahit ano.”
Which of the two characters that she plays can she relate with, Bela or Luna?
“I can relate with both of them in that they’re both brave and I think I’m brave din naman in my own way.
"Pero sa mga experiences na pinagdaanan nila sa movie, hindi ako maka-relate kasi hindi ko pa naranasan.
"Mahirap din gawin ang movie kasi magkakaibang love scenes ang ginawa ko with Mark Anthony Fernandez, Kiko Estrada and Julio Diaz.”
She says the role of Bela is more difficult for her to do.
“Kasi nga, in my past movies, ako yung abused party, but si Bela is a strong woman, very talented, she stands for herself, well educated, never nag-stammer sa pagsasalita niya.
"Kita yung confidence niya pati sa kilay, mata, sa movements niya kaya Direk Mac is always reminding me about it.
"When he pitched it to me, sabi niya, anak, big project ito. Matagal namin itong pinaghandaan ni Ricky Lee.
"Ang gusto namin, malampasan mo ang previous performances mo.
"Sir Ricky Lee visits us sa set so I can see na very serious sila ni Direk sa ‘Bela Luna’, kaya nga hands on sila talaga sa paggawa nito. Ako naman, I get so inspired to always give my best in every scene.”