Paulo Avelino stands out as one of the busiest figures in today’s entertainment scene. In addition to headlining two hit series, “Linlang: The Teleserye Version” and “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim,” he takes the lead in the upcoming film “Elevator,” alongside Kylie Verzosa, just another project where he transitions into a different persona with chameleon-like ease, further solidifying his versatility as an actor.

Paulo thrives on challenges, especially when presented with characters that aren’t tailor-made for his personality. This pushes him to excavate a treasure trove of emotions. “Ayaw kong nili-limit ‘yung sarili ko into one genre o forte ko. Gusto ko ma-explore lahat. Maybe as an actor also, ang dami mong nadi-discover sa sarili mo. I like to do roles na people think I can’t do o hindi bagay sa akin,” he said during an interview on Luis Manzano’s vlog channel.

In his two current series, for instance, he seamlessly shifted from intense drama in “Linlang: The Teleserye Version” to rom-com in “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.” The transition wasn’t easy, especially since this marked his rom-com homecoming. Thus, he’s grateful to the production team for helping him navigate the drastic change. He also extends his appreciation to Kim Chiu, his leading lady in both series, for her contribution to their on-screen chemistry.

On that note, he shared his approach to what actors call “banlaw,” or the crucial process of letting go of a character after portraying them. He emphasized its importance, particularly when immersed in a role for extended periods. The good thing is he’s found things that keep him grounded and sane, such as gaming.

Beneath his mysterious facade are fascinating details waiting to be discovered. He revealed that apart from acting, he has a deep passion for gaming, a topic he can discuss endlessly. Moreover, he’s interested in exploring the works of a film/series producer, currently dipping his toes into production and observing the intricacies of filmmaking.

He’s been soaking up the vibe on set, and it has made him extra grateful for the teams working behind the scenes.  “’Yung recognition kasi, it’s always us and the directors, pero hindi napapansin talaga ‘yung amount of hard work and effort that these people give sa mga shows na ginagawa nila. Hands down talaga ako sa kanila,” he expressed.

Luis echoed Paulo’s sentiments, saying that the off-cam people are the real heroes of production. They get a double dose of exhaustion, showing up first on the set and also leaving last.

While it might seem like Paulo has already tackled everything as an actor, he’s actually got a whole list of things he’s still itching to try out, especially in the sci-fi genre. He’s all about pushing boundaries in the local entertainment scene that leans heavily towards romance and love teams. But he knows diving into sci-fi isn’t a walk in the park, mainly because of the budget limitations.

When it comes to dream co-stars, he has a huge list, comprising mostly veteran actors such as Tessie Tomas, Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, and Nora Aunor. “Lagi kong gusto na makatrabaho sila kasi mind-opening ‘yung mga natututunan mo, not just in front of the camera but also behind.”

The conversation turned ‘kilig’ when Paulo reacted to his and Kim’s massive fan base as a love team. He acknowledged the time and energy that KimPau fans put in, which keeps him motivated to give his all in every project and keep them happy. He never really had an official love team partner before, as he worked with different leading ladies. While he sees the magic of love teams, he prefers mixing it up to explore his artistry.

He never imagined the KimPau fandom would explode like this, considering they only had a few “kilig” moments in “Linlang.” He thinks it was when the management thought of pairing them up again in “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim,” which he gamely accepted since he hadn’t done anything light-hearted in a while.

Towards the end of the interview, Luis dared him to take on the “Shot or Pass” Challenge in which he must either answer the question or take a shot of liquor if he didn’t want to answer.

Right off the bat, when asked if he’s currently single, Paulo opted for a shot. He also took a sip when questioned about whether he’s courting someone. This prompted Luis to quip, “Alam mo bili na lang tayo ng sisig. Puro inom na lang ginawa mo.”

When questioned about actors who really challenged him, Paulo shared that he often felt the pressure when acting alongside veteran actors, fearing he might not measure up. He mentioned Ronnie Lazaro, Joel Torre, and Nonie Buencamino. He also mentioned instances of being scolded by directors like Joel Lamangan, but he understands that their ‘anger’ is just their way of motivating the actors.