After the deafening success of JaDine In Love: The World Tour concert in Dubai on March 19, Filipino stars James Reid and Nadine Lustre will now take their show to Europe. The on-screen team-up of the Filipina actress/singer Lustre and Filipino-Australian Reid, winner of the 2010 Teen Clash edition of Pinoy Big Brother, started when Reid recorded his music video for Alam Nya Ba, which featured Lustre.
In 2014 the duo’s palpable on-screen chemistry paved the way for the blockbuster movie hit, Diary ng Panget: The Movie. Their popularity soared higher, particularly with international audiences, with the On The Wings Of Love soap opera, where they portray Clark (Reid) and Leah (Lustre) in the series.
While in Dubai, the real-life couple — both 22 — spent time with their fans a day after their sold-out concert, visiting Deira City Centre’s Etisalat branch for a meet-and-greet event. Before they leave for London, Reid posted his plans to skydive on Monday on his Twitter account. And of course, part of their packed schedule was a chat with tabloid!. Here’s what they had to say about what’s next for the hit couple.
After your successful concert here in Dubai, can your fans expect for a repeat?
Lustre: Hopefully. We love that.
Reid: Hopefully we will come back. We were able to sell out the concert and I also heard that there were so many people outside the venue trying to buy tickets, which were already sold out. I guess there’s a demand.
Tell us about your upcoming movie, This Time.
Reid: It’s a very light, fun summer romance. It goes with different types of relationships of love. But the main story is about our characters, who meet as children and they meet only in the summer, because I leave and come back every year, but only in the summer. So each year they grow a year older, see each other and they fall in love over the years.
You have played Clark and Leah for a long time in On The Wings Of Love, and people have become used to those characters. How will you treat your new roles in the upcoming movie?
Reid: Well, the character is very different. It just takes time and we have to go over the script a few times to get into character and sometimes the character doesn’t really come out until you start shooting. And only then do you really feel the character and start to create it as you go along.
In your past movies, you two have always done a music collaboration as part of the soundtrack. Can we expect something for this movie?
Lustre: I don’t think so, not this time. Well, hopefully we can do a few tracks but from what I heard, someone else will be singing the soundtrack.
Reid: Yeah not this time. Well, maybe.
Can we expect a new song or album from either of you soon?
Lustre: He’s actually working on his album now.
Reid: Yes, I’m working on an album. We’ll see, maybe I can write a duet for us.
Lustre: But we haven’t planned it yet. We are going on tour and we have a movie, so we will see.
After the movie, is another television soap opera in the pipeline?
Reid: Yes, there’s one in the making. No final details but definitely [there is one]. I think it might begin at the end of this year.
Nadine, there’s a clamour for you to portray the role of Darna (a fictional character and Filipino comics superheroine, similar to Wonder Woman). If you are chosen for the role, will you do it?
Lustre: I would do it, but I would have to prepare for it. It’s Darna, it’s such an honour. It’s not going to be easy so I really have to prepare for it.
What do you think should an artist have to be able to do Darna. What qualities you to be Darna?
Lustre: Well for one, her body. She wears like a bikini, a tube. That’s one. I have to be fit for all the fight scenes.
What are your dream movie and roles together?
Lustre: Action
Reid: Yeah, action. Something like Mr and Mrs Smith. That will be cool.
You have now confirmed that you are a couple. How do you think can you maintain your relationship while being in showbiz?
Reid: Well, I never expect that people bashing, or whatever, will ruin what we have. I think everyone’s happy, no one’s really in a violent reaction. I think the media is quite happy with what’s going on right now. Clear skies.
You’re big stars now, from On The Wings of Love to your world tour concert. How do you keep yourselves grounded?
Reid: It’s hard, especially because just recently with the world tour... it really sends you on a high. It’s really hard to believe that we are having sold-out concerts in Dubai and we have London and Milan next. It’s really incredible. It’s really our families that keep us grounded. When you get back home they still see you as the same person, treat you as the same person, no matter how many screaming fans you have. Your family always treat you the same.
