Sexy actress AJ Raval really wants to be an action star like dad Jeric

CEBU, Philippines —  Rising sexy star AJ Raval has slowly been feeling the effects of fame. The daughter of former action star Jeric Raval said the changes in her life have been plenty since her daring turns in the Viva Films movies “Paglaki Ko Gusto Ko Maging Pornstar” and “Death of a Girlfriend,” plus her inclusion in the long-running series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.”

Marami ang nagbago like mga hindi na pwede gawin in public,” she shared.

The actress admitted it was not her preference to be a sexy star – it was a genre that Viva saw suited her, and while she had qualms at first, she placed her full trust in her management.

“Hindi ako ang pumili na magpa-sexy. Sila Boss Vic [del Rosario] nagbigay sa akin ng ganoong image kasi naniniwala sila sa akin na kaya kong gawin. I’m grateful of course that they put their faith in me. If it was up to me, I’d like to be an action star like my father of course.”

Her parents too, weren’t eager at the idea of her baring flesh on camera, but they eventually relented. AJ’s dad, for one, did not speak to her for a while when she decided to do “Pornstar.”

“Sa totoo lang, hindi sila naging supportive noong una. Pero ngayon hinahayaan nila ako,” said AJ. “Gusto ko mag-artista kasi nakikita ko sa Papa ko mismo. Nakikita niya rin na naniniwala sa akin ang Viva family, and the people also welcome me kaya naging okay na rin sila. Lagyan ko lang daw ng limitation. Hindi naman din ako nagpapa-sexy just because I want to post something on Instagram. Nagpapa-sexy ako kasi trabaho. Kaya ko naman gawin kung kailangan talaga and dahil work din.”

While children of parents who’ve made a mark in their fields struggle to step out of their shadows, AJ said that’s the opposite of what she wants to happen.

“Ayoko mag step out sa dad ko. Gusto ko nandoon lang siya lagi,” said AJ. “Syempre because of him hindi ako nahirapan pumasok sa showbiz, kaya ako rin mawala yun.”

AJ, who will star in a remake of “Scorpion Nights,” further shared that while she is flattered at the admiration of fans, one hazard of the job are the malicious and below-the-belt messages she now often receives on her social media.

“Natutuwa naman ako pero pagka there are DMs, nakakaramdam ako ng pikon, gusto ko patulan. Sobrang foul yung sinasabi sa akin minsan. When I was still a students, there were fellow students na nambabastos and then we would be sent to the guidance counsellor kasi bigla kong sinusuntok. That’s how I feel now.”

“I’ve been receiving negative comments that I didn’t get when I still did sweet roles. Mas marami yung natutuwa sa akin dahil nagpapa-sexy ako, at the same time, dumadami din yung negative.”

And how does she deal with all the noise? “Deadma. For me wala silang bilang sa ginagawa ko kaya hindi ko na lang sila papansinin.”

Describing herself as boyish and “hindi maarte,” AJ said she used to be an introvert, up until her casting in “Probinsyano” which taught her to socialize on set and make friends.

On her father’s advice when it comes to choosing the right guy for her, AJ shared, “Sobrang strict ng tatay ko pagdating sa relationships to the point na may pananakot. But now he knows my boyfriend, mabait naman and close sa family so okay na sa kanya ngayon. He just tells me always na dapat piliin ko yung responsible at may pangarap. Kahit hindi kagwapuhan basta may pangarap.”