Ara and Akihiro in movie on taboo topic
At 39 years old, Ara Mina remains as hot as the sun.
At 39 years old, Ara Mina remains as hot as the sun.
In the ’90s, the actresssinger was so like goddess that she was cast in several sexy movies. Touted as “Pantasya ng Bayan” then, some of her more memorable projects were “Two Timer,” “Phone Sex,” “Banatan,” and “Nag-aapoy Na Laman.”
In a recent interview, though, Ara said she now limits baring too much skin on cam.
“No na.” she said. “Remember, I have a daughter. I don’t want her Googleing me up 10 years from now and see something awkward for me shot at my current age.”
Ara is also a businesswoman. She has her own beauty line, shoe line, and a café. The actress-entrepreneur donates 15% of the profits to her foundation, named after her, which she founded in 2007.
Doing daring scenes isn’t totally off the picture. Ara said it it’s really needed in the story, then, go.
“But I won’t disrobe just for the audience’s pleasure.”
‘Controversial’
Case in point is Ara’s movie “Immaculada, Pag-ibig Ng Isang Ina,” written and directed by Arlyn dela Cruz.
Without spilling too much detail, the actress shared it tackles “incest” and mother-son relationship.
It is said to be based on actual stories Arlyn covered as a journalist.
Ara said she didn’t hesitate to accept the role despite its taboo theme.
“It’s a very challenging role actually,” she said. “This is the first time I did something like this.”
Playing her son in the movie is Akihiro Blanco. How was it working with him, we asked.
“I guided him in the intimate scenes,” she said. “Compared to my previous partners, who were all older than me, Aki was timid. I remember during our first taping, he didn’t know how to touch me and his hands were really cold, almost like he was frightened to do anything. So I talked to him. I told him that it’s just work.”
Ara shared the lesson viewers could get from watching “Immaculada.” “Incest happens and we want that to end.”
No awkwardness
In a separate interview, Akihiro, 23, talked about working with Ara. “I’m a lucky guy!” he said. He confirmed that Ara “motivated” him in doing what he termed as “Xrated scenes.”
“I was shy at first because that’s Ara Mina. But she made me comfortable. She told me to just go with the flow.”
Did Aki get carried away with their scenes, we teased. “Thankfully, I didn’t!” he laughed. Turning serious, Akihiro said there’s no awkwardness between him and Ara after takes. Everything was part of the job, he noted.
A freelancer for a year now, Akihiro has been leaning towards doing independent movies, if not those with controversial topics. His project before “Immaculada,” the movie “Born Beautiful,” saw him in intimate scenes with male actor Martin del Rosario.
Aki is not complaining about his branding. In fact, he likes it, saying he doesn’t want to be the stereotypical
“pa-cute” leading man.
“I want to explore the world of acting. This is art. I want to experience a roller-coaster ride of emotions through films,” he said.
Still, Aki has his limitations. He’s not okay doing frontal nudity, at least for now.
Asked how his family reacts to his films, Akihiro said “they are very supportive.”
Also in the cast are Elizabeth Oropesa, John Estrada, Simon Ibarra, Jeffrey Santos, Elijah Canlas, Kyrshee Grengia, Kaiser Boado, Martha Comia, Jun Nayra, Jemina Sy, Joyce Pilarsky, Althea Villanueva, Allison Pundavela, Franchine Rifols, Jelen Tan, Belle Dominguez, JR Velasco, Eric Borromeo, and John Robin.
Produced by Kapandesal Events & Productions, Inc. and Blank Pages Productions, “Immaculada, Pag-ibig Ng Isang Ina” is part of the Singkuwento International Film Festival 2019, which runs until Feb. 22 at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Theater in Intramuros, Manila.