Cindy Miranda was quick to deny any involvement in Nerisa co-star Aljur Abrenica’s “breakup” with wife Kylie Padilla.
Some netizens have been linking her to the issue following Robin Padilla’s confirmation in an online interview on Wednesday, that his daughter and son-in-law have broken up. The action star told talent manager Ogie Diaz that Kylie left Aljur over an alleged “third party.” Separation rumors first surfaced in February due to Kylie’s cryptic Instagram posts.
On Thursday, netizens flocked to Cindy’s latest Instagram post showing publicity stills from her first-ever title film under Viva, where she and leading man Aljur portray a married couple. The actor reacted to the post with three heart emojis, which had netizens brazenly asking in the comments section if Cindy was the “third party.”
During The STAR’s exclusive interview with Cindy, also last Thursday, the former beauty queen laughed off such comments connecting her to the split.
“Yes, kahit sa Instagram ko ay ‘Ikaw pala yung third party?’ Naku, sabi ko, ano ba ‘to? Anyway, ako naman po, hindi po ako affected, because I know the truth. Sabi nga sa Viva sa akin, naku na-taon na... Pero hindi po ako apektado kasi di po totoo,” she told The STAR.
While the issue has created interest in Nerisa, a sexy thriller directed by Lawrence Fajardo and set for release on July 30 on ktx.ph, iWantTFC, TFC IPTV and Vivamax, Cindy admitted that “medyo na-o-off din po ako” with its timing.
According to her, their chemistry might have led netizens to wrongly assume there’s something going on between her and co-star. “Baka naging effective, baka nagawa namin yung acting na, ‘Ay may chemistry,’ kaya siguro na-stress sila na ‘Ah, siya talaga yung third party, siya na nga yun.’”
Cindy, nevertheless, stressed, “We’re friends. Actually po, baka ako pa yung least na naging ka-close ni Aljur since 90 percent po nasa eksena ako. So, wala talaga kaming, alam mo yung kwentuhan na not as actors. So, mga bashers na yan or nagki-claim naman na walang alam, bahala na po sila, pa-ingayin nalang po nila ang movie (laughs).”
During their lock-in filming on an island last May, Cindy said that Aljur was easy to work with even though they didn’t have any workshops prior to the shoot. “Very open siya sa lahat… Actually po, sabi ko, naging open naman si Aljur sa personal na mga bagay. Makikita mo sa kanya na may pinagdadaanan talaga. I think, it helped him in some way, sa pelikula.
“Bilang actor, I think nakakatulong yung mga totoong na-experience sa buhay. And sana natulungan namin siya na alam mo po yun, kahit na di OK (since) lahat naman talaga may ‘di magandang pinagdadaanan.”
Asked if she had any advice to her co-star, Cindy said, “Ang sabi ko sa kanya, alam mo, magiging OK din yan. ‘Wag ka mag-alala. Di ko man natanong, siempre nahihiya rin ako, kung ano lang po yung sinabi sa akin. I was just listening to him as a co-actor, gusto ko rin maintindihan yung pinagdadaanan niya... and I was happy na pinagkakatiwalaan niya ako.
“Sana maging OK, yun po sinabi ko sa kanya. Duon ka humawak sa gusto mo, ‘wag mong bitawan hanggang kaya mo kasi parte yan, kelangan maging matapang ka. Of course, may pamilya na po siya, di ba? Yun nalang isipin niya and it’s gonna be OK.
“And after naman ng problema na yan, baka mas maging OK siya na tao. And I feel po kasi inamin niya na before talaga, he was a ‘bad, bad, bad guy,’ he told me that. Pero sa pagkakakilala ko kay Aljur napakabait, napaka-daldal, napaka-jolly, siya po yung mag-ri-reach out sa ‘yo.
“Mahilig siya sa mga signs, fire signs or Sagi (Sagittarius) ka ba whatever, kinikilala ka niya eh. Yun po mga kwentuhan namin. Sabi niya, nagbago siya. And he’s a very good person. I hope na si God… lahat naman ng mabubuting tao, bini-bless.”
At the virtual presscon for Nerisa on Thursday, Aljur wasn’t allowed to address personal questions, but in response to a movie-related media query, he said he’ll do everything for his family. “Yes, sa abot ng makakaya ko, gagawin ko, kasi ikaw ang gagawa ng sarili mong reyalidad eh. Ikaw ang gagawa ng sarili mong mundo. At ever since, ang uri ko po ay umiikot talaga mundo ko sa pamilya.”
Kylie has since issued a statement via GMA News, asking for respect for “decisions we have made as a family” and “for each and every member of our family.” She and Aljur, who wed in 2018, are also working on a “healthy co-parenting” set-up for their two sons, Alas Joaquin and Axl Romero.