A muscled body proved to be fruitful for Rustom. He was cast in a TV series in Singapore entitled Paradise which resembles the international series Baywatch, together with Romnick Sarmenta and three Singaporean leading ladies, models Michelle Chong and Lum May Yee and MTV VJ Nadja Hutagalong.
Asked how he got the role, Rustom said, "Actually, parang nagkataon lang e, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) Media Works tapped a local production here, Orange Production under Bong Agustin. I have a friend there who asked me if I wanted to audition for their Singapore project because they were still looking for another male lead, dahil talagang pinili na nila si Romnick. I said, ‘Sige, walang problema sa akin,’ Then after two weeks, that was in February, I auditioned and fortunately I passed. The vice president of Media Works even said, ‘Rustom, even before you talked, we already liked you.’ It really flattered me."
Well-praised that he was, he signed a two-year contract with Media Works, which will likewise handle his career in Singapore.
Is Paradise the only show that he will do in Singapore?
"No.Paradise is just a part of the contract that I signed for two years. I can also do other shows; it can be a sitcom, a variety show or even product endorsements," Rustom explained.
Paradise is the first drama series of TV Works, one of the two TV stations in Singapore. It is an English-language series which has 13 episodes and to be shown every Thursday for an hour starting at 9:30 p.m. The first four episodes of the series is directed by Raul Ona, a Filipino, and the succeeding episodes by Jeffrey Jeturian, another Filipino director.
The role Rustom portrays in Paradise is a man who has a shady character while Romnick plays the goody-goody role.
Portraying a role with an English dialogue is somehow difficult for Rustom. According to him, "It’s different to act with an English dialogue, kasi dito sa ‘tin Tagalog ang dialogue so the acting is natural, flowing with emotions agad. But in English you really have to emote and minsan before you act nag-tra-translate ka pa. I’m still adjusting."
They just finished taping eight episodes, having their location shoot in Calatagan, Batangas.
One might wonder, why in Calatagan?
"The story is about the Singaporeans who went to an island here in the Philippines and it will be discovered in the end that Nadja, one of the three leading ladies, is the daughter of a Singaporean who owns the island," Rustom explained. "On Aug. 1, we’re going to start taping the remaining episodes in Singapore."
Singapore’s movie industry is just starting. They chose to have us as partner in making a show because they believed in the Filipino know-how. They are impressed with the acting style of the Filipinos. It all started when Romnick Sarmenta won for the Asian TV Awards.
Among the Asian actors that Media Works hired, only Rustom and Romnick got to sign a contract. Actors from Thailand and Malaysia were hired only on a per-project basis. Contract stars get paid monthly.
While maintaining a career in Singapore, Rustom will continue to be based in Manila. "We have agreed on a fly-in-fly-out deal with my producers in Singapore. I’ll fly in when there’s work to do and fly out immediately after," the actor said.
A picture of a happy man these days, he is hoping that Paradise will open more doors for him. The saying is true: pag may lungkot, may ligaya. Rustom believed that what’s happening to him now is a blessing from Above. "Having a strong faith in Jehovah really helped me survive. I feel closer to Him especially during those trying times."
Although the result of their annulment case has not yet been granted, the thing about Carmina is already a closed book.
About the house that they once shared, Rustom proudly said, "For the past three years, di ko ginalaw yung ayos ng bahay kasi parang may hinihintay. But now I’m okay. I rearranged it and you can see my personality and taste in there. It’s already fully-paid."
He now has a new inspiration, a non-showbiz from Alabang.
"Given the chance, I love to work with her (Carmina) again."