So this is your first foray into comedy on the big screen. Tell us about it.
       Comedy is nothing new to me. I have been doing comedy in sitcoms, the latest being Hokus-Pokus on GMA, which is doing quite well. Comedy gives me as much satisfaction and fulfillment as an actor as the action stuff does. I’m now comfortable doing comedy roles, thanks to my stint in sitcoms.

What is the movie about?
       It’s the story about an OFW, which I play, who comes home from Egypt after seven years feeling guilty for not being there for his family. To make up for it, I bring my family to a magic show where a freak accident kills my wife, who is played by Precious Lara, and her heart is transplanted to this evil woman that Ai-Ai plays. The movie continues with me trying to connect to my late wife through Ai-Ai.

Sounds like a romantic movie.…
       It is but it’s also a comedy. Wenn Deramas put his comic touches in it. It can also be a family drama if you consider it, but there are a lot of comedy moments in the film. I’m very sure the whole family will enjoy this movie.

From the onset, the movie became rather controversial as it was supposed to have Gretchen Barretto as your wife. But then your real-life wife intervened. What’s this all about?
       I think we’ve moved on with regard to this issue. Everything is well and Gretchen has accepted it. We’re very happy with Precious Lara because she certainly delivered. For a first-timer, she’s very impressive and talented.

Your daughter Inah is in this movie. How did this go about?
       I asked her to. She’s an incoming fourth-year high-school student in La Salle and she readily agreed, since we were shooting during her summer break. She thinks this whole showbiz thing is a summer job.

Will you allow her to go into showbiz full time?
       She’s really determined to finish her studies. Although she has no definite plans yet on what to take up in college, she wants to become an entrepreneur. She wants to put up a restaurant. She loves to cook kasi, especially pasta, but she doesn’t want to be the chef. Taga-pamahala lang daw! (Laughs)

What was her take on the casting controversy involving her mom and Gretchen?
       She said that she was OK about Gretchen being her mommy in the movie. She said it’s just a movie anyway. Besides, Gretchen is her ninang sa binyag.
       Your friend Phillip Salvador is facing issues of his own, particularly his estafa case. How do you offer your support to him?
       Prayers. We (referring to Rudy Fernandez and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada) are always here for him. Our support for him is all-out.

There have been talks that the four of you will do a movie together.…
       Dream project ’yan if it pushes through. Of course, it will entail quite a big budget, that’s why it would be better na paghandaan ng mabuti.

There are also talks that you’re not joining this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. Is this true?
       We lack preparations for this year. We don’t want to join the filmfest na basta-basta lang ang project namin. Our last entry, Exodus, took a year to prepare.

Your son Bryan and Maui Taylor ended their relationship recently. There are talks that you demanded that Maui give back the ring Bryan gave to her.
       We don’t have any Indian-givers in our family. My son never demanded the ring returned. It was Lolit Solis who actually wants to have the ring returned! (Laughs)