XIAN LIM’s last project was the movie “Hello Universe” which he himself directed.
Now, he’s back to being a lead actor on TV in GMA Telebabad’s groundbreaking drama series on figure skating, “Hearts on Ice”.
It’s the first time of the former Kapamilya actor to be paired with homegrown Kapuso star Ashley Ortega and they’re both amazed that they are currently being linked to each other, even if it’s common knowledge that Xian’s real life inamorata is Kim Chiu.
But naturally, fans of Kim are mad at Xian for cheating on Kim.
Honestly, though, we think it’s just a ploy to help promote and drum up more interest for “Hearts on Ice”, but some folks easily lapped it up, hook, line and sinker.
At the show’s presscon, Xian clarified the issue.
“Wala pong ganun,” he stresses. “Ashley and I became close friends dahil even before we started taping the show, madalas na kaming nagkakasama sa aming training sa skating rink.
"Nagtutulungan talaga kami in preparing for our roles as figure skaters in the show. So siguro, nami-misinterpret ng ibang tao ang closeness namin.”
He finds it funny that even their skating coach, Ronan Capili, is being implicated and blamed for allegedly tolerating their romance.
“Coach Ronan has been my coach since I started training on ice,” he adds.
“Siya talaga ang witness sa ilang ulit kong pagbagsak while ice skating. And also Coach Ana Bermudez, sila ang consultants namin for our skating scenes.
"Sila rin ang makakapagtunay na Ashley and I are just close friends. Trabaho lang po ito and we are both professionals who are just doing our jobs.
"E, alam nyo naman po sa showbiz, magkapareha lang kayo at nakitang magkasama kayo, may something na agad.”
Xian says he was really surprised when the project was first offered to him.
“Sabi ko, ako ba talaga ang pinili niya for the role? Ako raw kasi athlete naman talaga ako as I play basketball.
"So, ako naman, I took it as a challenge. It’s something new that I have to learn, ice skating.
"So I really had to learn ice skating and train well for all my scenes with Ashley who’s already an expert figure skater.
"I’m really glad that Ashley is very patient in helping teach me how to skate.
"Ilang beses niya akong nakitang natumba, bumagsak sa ice at napakabait niya, always encouraging me na kaya ko yan at gagaling din ako.”
After “Hearts on Ice”, Xian will resume the taping of the series he was doing with Jennylyn Mercado two years ago, “Love Die Repeat”.
This was shelved when Jennylyn got pregnant with her baby daughter.
But ultimately, he also wants to try directing a drama series, like other actors turned directors now helming shows for GMA: Ricky Davao and Gina Alajar.
“Talagang ipiniprisinta ko ang sarili ko sa management to try me as a director and I will do it gladly with all my heart,” he says.
“I love acting, but iba rin kasi ang fulfillment na nararamdaman ko as a director, so sana, someday, they’d also give me the chance to direct a drama series.
"I’m really happy sa paglipat ko sa GMA kasi they’re all so welcoming, so warm, no one made me feel na bago lang ako o lumipat lang ako rito.”