Inside Maymay, Donny, and Kyle’s bold leap in ‘Roja,’ now on Netflix

The trio noted that ‘Roja’ pushed them harder than most projects before.

For Maymay Entrata, Donny Pangilinan, and Kyle Echarri, starring in “Roja”—ABS-CBN and Dreamscape Entertainment’s newest action drama now streaming on Netflix—is a bold leap into unfamiliar territory, stepping far beyond the romcoms they’ve long been known for.

Set in the picturesque, fictional La Playa Roja resort, “Roja” follows Liam (Donny), the head chef and son of the resort’s owners, and Olsen (Kyle), its security guard. Liam’s discovery of his father’s affair, along with his accusation of Olsen’s complicity in escorting him, severely damages their friendship. Caught in the crossfire is their friend, Luna (Maymay), a sous chef who grew up in the resort. Everything changes one night when an armed group storms the resort and takes hostages. Liam and Olsen are forced to set aside their differences and join forces with Luna to save their loved ones.

Maymay’s acting comeback

After winning “Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7” in 2017, Maymay built a career largely through supporting roles in films like “Fantastica,” “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” “Princess DayaReese,” and “Hello, Love, Again.”

She also appeared in “La Luna Sangre,” “Click, Like, Share,” and “Maaalala Mo Kaya.” For much of the pandemic and the years before it, she took a break from acting to focus on her personal life and music. 

With “Roja,” Maymay is staging a comeback—and in her first major lead role at that. “Sa lahat ng characters na ginawa ko, ito ang pinakakakaiba. Ang mga character ko, either magnanakaw o nagpapatawa,” she told radar Entertainment and other select media in a roundtable.

Preparing for Luna required emotional depth and physical stamina. Maymay underwent acting workshops, action training, and strict workouts that included daily jogging.

“Kahit mahirap siya,” she said, “sobrang na-enjoy ko siya dahil pangarap kong role talaga ‘tong sa action genre.”

Donny, best known as one-half of “DonBelle,” has made a name through “Love is Color Blind,” “An Inconvenient Love,” “He’s Into Her,” and “Can’t Buy Me Love.” 

“Roja” serves as his action genre debut. “Grabe talaga ‘yong pinagdaanan ko,” he said. “To come from characters I used to play before, where you’re very charming, where it looks like you’re very well put together for the most part… that’s not my focus [now]… I’m not thinking, ‘How do I get with this girl? Paano ako magpapa-impress dito? Paano ko siya liligawan?’ Ang iniisip ko talaga, ‘Paano tayo mabubuhay dito?’”

Kyle, though he’s dabbled in action through “The Iron Heart,” “Pamilya Sagrado,” and “The Ride,” is best known for his roles in “Seven Sundays,” “Silly Red Shoes,” “100 Awit Para Kay Stella,” “On The Wings of Love,” “Kadenang Ginto,” and “Senior High.”

As Olsen, he had to revisit his action know-how—while unpacking a character full of contradictions. “He has his flaws… parang may hero complex ‘yong character ko,” he said. “[Viewers] are going to learn a lot from my character: You just can’t have everything. You can’t always be the best version of yourself.”

Limits pushed

The trio noted that “Roja” pushed them harder than most projects before.

“[It’s] unfamiliar territory. Very, very unfamiliar,” Donny said. “Your boundaries are questioned… ‘Yong comfort zone mo, parang nakalimutan mo na. At doon mo mararanasan ang lahat ng emotions na ‘di mo alam, nandoon pala… Feeling ko nag-mature ako talaga.”