Zanjoe at home in comedy

MANILA, Philippines - Looks like Zanjoe Marudo thrives in comedy genre these days. On weeknights, televiewers see him exchanging banter with the rest of the cast of Banana Nite (also called Banana Split Extra Scoop on Saturdays) while he is often assigned to portraying witty characters on the big screen. In fact, after the box-office success of Bromance: My Brother’s Romance, Zanjoe is once again set to appear in another project under Skylight Films titled My Illegal Wife with Pokwang in the female lead role. 

But there’s nothing in his demeanor that tells you that the Kapamilya star can pull off a comedic character, isn’t it? Even the actor himself never did imagine that he can easily fit into the funny mold. It was director Bobot Mortiz who initially saw his potential in comedy.

“I never thought that I’d be given a project in comedy because when I came out of the PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) house, the roles given to me were mostly for MMK (Maalaala Mo Kaya) and teleseryes,” says Zanjoe. “It was direk Bobot who got me for the sitcom Aalog-Alog. Perhaps, direk saw something in me; that I can also be funny on-cam.”

Still, Zanjoe admits that until this day, slipping into a funny character gives him a jittery feeling, especially when the cameras start to roll and the director shouts, “Action!”

“I’m usually pressured during the first shooting day and I feel a little lost but on the second or third day, that’s the time when I am able to completely feel my character, the flow of the story and learn how to deliver my line in a manner that is convincing and natural.”

It would be absurd, Zanjoe adds, to identify himself as a comedian, knowing too well that he can’t go onstage and put his audience in stitches in a snap. “Some say that I am a comedian probably because I get to star in comedy films. I just follow whatever it is they ask me to do. Minsan ang sarap lang na nailalabas mo din yung kulit mo. I know that I still have lots to learn when it comes to comedy.”

My Illegal Wife director Tony Reyes would probably disagree. He saw Zanjoe’s potential in the comedy department since they began shooting for the movie and revealed during the presscon that Zanjoe’s acting style is similar to that of Vic Sotto. The positive comment is something to be proud about but the actor remains humble saying, “They know that Bossing (Vic) is my idol. I’ve been watching his movies ever since I was a kid and I still do until now.”

Asked what he admires most in Vic, Zanjoe replies, “His being so relaxed and the kind of movie that he makes —- na alam mong comedy but it never fails to impart lessons in the end. And Bossing can do drama and comedy.”

That’s why, Zanjoe got excited and happy upon learning that direk Tony will be their director because “lagi siyang kasama ni Bossing, so parang kasama ko na rin. He told me that my character is a combination of Joey de Leon and Vic Sotto; kailangan ko raw laruin yung character.”

Good thing, Zanjoe exceeded all expectations that made him all the more delighted with the outcome of the movie. Besides, with Pokwang around in My Illegal Wife, the pressure on his shoulders has been lessened as compared to his first major project Bromance. They first worked together on the big screen via the blockbuster Cinco a few years back.

In My Illegal Wife, Zanjoe plays Henry who suffers from amnesia after an accident. He is lying unconscious on the seashore when Clarisse (Pokwang) finds him and discovers that he is clueless about anything including his own person. Riotous events follow when Clarisse convinces Henry into believing that he is legally married to her.

As a “married” couple, it is but natural for Zanjoe and Pokwang to have intimate scenes which the former says is one comfortable sequence for him to do. “Si Mamang (as he fondly calls Pokwang) ay napakahalaga that is why she is well-loved by her co-actors. What you saw (on the teaser) is just part of the story perhaps it will come out differently if my leading lady is not Pokwang. I truly respect her, napakabuti n’yang tao. She would always cook for us.”

Pokwang, in turn, equally feels proud of Zanjoe whom she has initially worked with when the latter just came out of the PBB house some years ago.

“Nakita ko yung pag-grow n’ya as an artist. I’ve seen his nice attitude and goodness that have remained in him. Mabait, after our scenes wala kwentuhan na, chikahan lang so Bea (Alonzo, Zanjoe’s girlfriend) has nothing to worry about,” Pokwang quips.

My Illegal Wife also stars Empoy Marquez, Joy Viado, Edgar Allan Guzman, Beauty Gonzalez, Ellen Adarna, Mikylla Ramirez, Steven de Guzman and Anita Linda. It will open on June 11 in cinemas nationwide.