Star Cinema

Filipino stars Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino opened up about their first big-screen collaboration, “My Love Will Make You Disappear,” revealing the journey that brought together the dynamic pair whose combined social media following tops 40 million.

The romantic comedy, produced by ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema — one of the exhibitors at Hong Kong FilMart — will be released globally March 28.

“I think this movie — romance and comedy — it’s a Filipino thing that our culture really loves, about two people falling in love with each other,” Chiu tells Variety. “It’s the best time for people to watch this in cinemas because there’s a lot of things happening around us, a lot of problems people are dealing with.”

Directed by Chad Vidanes and written by Patrick Valencia and Isabella Policarpio, the film follows Sari (Chiu), a woman convinced she’s cursed because every man she loves vanishes. When she meets Jolo (Avelino), a brooding landlord struggling with a failing apartment complex, they join forces to save a community from displacement.

The “KimPau” pairing, as fans affectionately call them, was years in the making. Avelino says he’s wanted to work with Chiu since 2011. “I was so young then, and I was looking for someone similar to my age that I could work with. Kim was the first one who came to mind because there’s just something about her personality that’s just so pleasing,” he says.

The duo finally collaborated in 2023 on the drama series “Linlang,” where they played an estranged husband and wife, followed by the Philippine remake of Korean hit series ”What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” (2024).

Their initial partnership wasn’t without challenges. “My first impression of Paulo is he’s the kind of guy that doesn’t really talk, and my personality is really loud,” Chiu recalls. “I’m quite nervous if he’s OK with a co-worker that’s very lovely, funny, out loud, always there.”

Avelino agrees: “It was kind of awkward because the roles were totally different. I think it’s one of Kim’s first roles as well on the more mature side.” But he adds that their relationship evolved naturally: “Eventually, like halfway through the shoot, we’d already start having lunch together on the set with our directors and the crew.”

By the time they filmed “Secretary Kim,” their chemistry was established, though Avelino admits the genre shift was challenging: “Everything was in place for Kim because that’s, I would say, her forte. It’s kind of awkward for me because to be honest, I don’t do dramas or romantic comedy.”

Both actors see parallels between themselves and their roles in “My Love Will Make You Disappear.” Chiu says Sari is “70% similar to who I am in person,” though she jokes, “the different thing about Sari and Kim is I’m not cursed. I know I’m not being cursed in love, absolutely.”

Chiu brings her box office draw from hits like “Bride for Rent” and “The Ghost Bride,” while Avelino leverages his dramatic chops from acclaimed turns in “Heneral Luna” and “Fan Girl.”

But working on films versus television presents distinct challenges. “It’s harder because people buy tickets to watch you in cinemas. So it has to be worth it,” Chiu explains. “We have to be at our 100% best.”

Avelino notes the primary difference is time: “For films in the Philippines, there’s actually more time to develop it and shoot the scenes, where in TV, we get to shoot 10 to 20 scenes a day, which I find really hard.”

There’s a growing international interest for commercial Filipino films, with “Hello, Love, Again” recently shattering records, becoming the first film from the Philippines to gross over PHP1 billion ($17 million) worldwide. “There’s something about commercial films and romance that gives this specific feeling,” Avelino says. “The kilig and the happiness that you get from the cinema, it’s not too heavy, not too light.”

When asked to translate Tagalog word “kilig” — a uniquely Filipino concept — Chiu describes it as “when love tickles you, so you smile and you find that happiness inside you that you really cannot explain.” Avelino adds it’s “a mix of butterflies in your stomach and when your heart skips a beat.”

Both actors emphasize how meaningful it is to create films that bring joy to viewers. “I think it’s an escape of what you’re dealing with right now, to watch a feel-good movie,” says Chiu.

When asked about future projects together, Chiu remains focused on their current film: “For now, we just hope and pray that this movie will become a big success, not just in the Philippines, but also abroad.”

Avelino, however, is already dreaming of new genres to explore with Chiu. “I would love to work with Kim again, but I would like a different genre,” he says. “Maybe a tear-jerker, an action film or what I’ve been wanting to do for the longest time: a sci-fi film.”