Zanjoe Marudo, Kylie Verzosa paired in romance drama

“DO YOU have any idea how much I gave up for you?”

The i ntense l i ne was never uttered in real life, but was merely the dialogue of Lira, the character of beauty queen- turned- actress, Kylie Verzosa, in a confrontation scene with Andrei, played by Zanjoe Marudo, in the romance drama, “Ikaw Lang ang Mahal.”

A love story directed by Richard Somes, who was previously known for his horror films and action capers, “Ikaw Lang ang Mahal”, marks the first team-up of Marudo and Verzosa.

Although i t took t he lead stars a few days before they connected, they had undeniable chemistry that oozes even from the trailer of the film.

Definitely, the chemistry didn’t happen immediately. However, after a few days, Verzosa felt at ease with her first-time leading man.

“At ease na ako with Z and comfortable na ako,” she said. “Z was very professional and very tahimik. For every film na ginagawa mo, may matututunan ka sa sarili mo. When I first read the script, I already fell in love with the story right away. Mahal ko na ang character ko. May natutunan na ako agad.”

Even before Marudo got hold of the script of “Ikaw Lang ang Mahal,” he lost no time to give his nod to the project.

“Kahit hindi ko pa nababasa ang script, aaminin ko, naexcite ako agad ng malaman kong s i Kyl i e ,” Marudo admitted. “Bihira akong may maka-trabaho na halos pantay lang sa height ko. Si Kylie, nagulat ako. Grabe ang preparation na ginawa niya for this movie. First scene namin, naramdaman ko na may something sa dalawang characters na pwede talagang mag- work. Kaya nag- enjoy kaming tapusin ang pelikula.”

Marudo reunites with Somes, who first handled him in “Shake, Rattle and Roll, 13” ( 2011) in the episode, “Tamawo.”