Julia Barretto reacts to feedback on movie with Aga Muhlach

ACTRESS Julia Barretto has reacted to the mixed feedback about her upcoming movie with screen veteran Aga Muhlach.

This after the trailer of “Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko” received some negative reactions from fans, with some saying that the 54-year-old Muhlach is too old to be the leading man of Barretto, 26.

In a press conference, Barretto admitted she was aware of the online comments but assured that the movie won’t send a negative message to the viewers.

“We’re not trying to normalize anything,” she said. “We’re not trying to advocate anything. We’re storytellers. Again, we wouldn’t have jumped into this production if we knew this would send the wrong message in any way.”

“Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko” is a May-December love affair between a music professor and a student.

For his part, Muhlach was all praises for Barretto’s performance in the movie.

“I’m just grateful for his good words. All the time, every time we see each other, he always has something nice to say. That means so much to me,” Barretto said.

She also feels privileged that she saw a different side of Muhlach while working on the movie, admitting that she had a different impression of him before.

“Feeling ko seryoso siya, hindi siya maimik, hindi siya masyado makulit. Feeling ko sobrang focused na focused lang, parang hindi siya mamamansin. And to my surprise when we started shooting, siya pa ‘yung excited sa mga kanta, sa mga ni-record namin. When we have singers on the set, pinapakanta niya lahat so naging karaoke session, he’s dancing everyday. I was pleasantly surprised,” she said.

Muhlach has previously worked with several members of the famed Barretto clan.

He starred with Julia’s aunt Gretchen Barretto in “Miguelito: Batang Rebelde” in 1985, her aunt Claudine in the 2002 movie “Kailangan Kita,” and her mom Marjorie in the movie “Forever” back in 1994 with Mikee Cojuangco. (ABS-CBN News)