Filipino Heartthrobs Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino Spark Cinema Magic in 'My Love Will Make YouDisappear': Exclusive Preview Says It's Prime Time for a Romantic Escape

Philippine celebrities Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino discussed their initial major film partnership in "My Love Will Make You Disappear," sharing insights into how they came together. This duo, with a joint social media reach exceeding 40 million followers, forms an electrifying team.

The romantic comedy, produced by ABS-CBN's Star Cinema — which is among the exhibitors at Hong Kong FilMart — will have a global release date set for 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 The optimal moment to view this in theaters is now since numerous events are unfolding around us, and many issues require people's attention.

The movie, directed by Chad Vidanes and penned by Patrick Valencia and Isabella Policarpio, centers around Sari (played by Chiu). She believes herself to be under a curse since all the men she has loved have disappeared without trace. Upon meeting Jolo (portrayed by Avelino), a moody landlord dealing with his faltering property management business, they collaborate to prevent their neighborhood from being uprooted.

The fan-favorite "KimPau" duo has been a long time coming. Avelino admits he’s dreamed of collaborating with Chiu since 2011. “Back when I was quite young, I sought out someone around my own age to collaborate with,” he explains. “Kim immediately popped into my head because there’s just this appealing quality about her personality.”

In 2023, the pair joined forces for the television drama "Linlang," portraying an estranged couple. They later starred in the Filipino adaptation of the popular South Korean show "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" in 2024.

Their early collaboration had its fair share of obstacles. Chiu remembers, "When I first met Paulo, I thought he was the silent type, whereas my own demeanor is very outgoing. I worried whether someone as cheerful, humorous, and extroverted as me would be compatible with him."

Avelino concurs: "The situation felt somewhat uncomfortable due to the contrasting roles. Also, this might have been among Kim’s initial performances in a more grown-up role too." However, he notes that they developed a natural rapport over time: "By around the midpoint of filming, we began sharing lunches at the set alongside our directors and team members."

When they shot "Secretary Kim," their rapport was well-established, although Avelino acknowledges the change in genres posed challenges: "Kim had everything she needed since that’s, I’d say, her strength. For me, however, it feels somewhat uncomfortable as I must admit, I generally steer clear from dramas or romantic comedies."

Both performers draw similarities between themselves and their characters in "My Love Will Make YouDisappear." Chiu mentions that Sari shares "70% of my real persona," although she playfully adds, "The main difference between Sari and me is that I’m not under any curse. I definitely do not feel cursed when it comes to matters of the heart."

Chiu uses her star power from successful movies such as "Bride for Rent" and "The Ghost Bride," whereas Avelino capitalizes on his acting skills showcased in critically praised films like "Heneral Luna" and "Fan Girl."

However, tackling film projects as opposed to TV shows brings different obstacles. "It’s more challenging since audiences pay for cinema seats to see your work. Therefore, it needs to be exceptional," Chiu points out. "We must deliver our absolute top performance."

Avelino points out the main distinction lies in the timeframe: "When it comes to filmmaking in the Philippines, there's significantly more time for development and shooting scenes. In contrast, with TV production, we often have to film anywhere from 10 to 20 scenes per day, which I find extremely challenging."

There is increasing global interest in commercial Filipino films, with "Hello, Love, Again" recently breaking records and becoming the The first movie from the Philippines to earn more than PHP1 billion ($17 million) globally. "Avelino mentions that there’s a particular sensation associated with commercial films and romance,” he states. “This mix of excitement and joy experienced at the movies isn’t overly intense nor too mild.”

When prompted to interpret the Tagalog term "kilig," which encapsulates a distinctively Filipino idea, Chiu explains it as “the sensation where love gently tingles within you, causing a joyful grin and an unexplainable inner sense of contentment.” Avelino further clarifies that it’s like having “butterflies fluttering in your stomach along with moments when your heartbeat momentarily falters.”

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.

Regarding future collaborations, Chiu is currently concentrating on their present film: "At the moment, our main focus is hoping and praying for this movie to achieve significant success, both within the Philippines and internationally," he states.

However, Avelino is already envisioning fresh categories to delve into with Chiu. He states, "I would really enjoy collaborating with Kim once more, but perhaps under a different genre. Maybe we could try a heart-wrenching drama, an action movie, or ideally, my long-held desire—a science fiction film."

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