How Donny, Kyle got into the zone for 'Roja'

From playing charming boy-next-door characters, Kapamilya actors Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri are now putting their game face on for their new series "Roja" as face-punching hotel staff.

- By CARISSA ALCANTARA

DONNY Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri

Directed by Law Fajardo, Andoy Ranay, Raymund Ocampo, and Rico Navarro, the story follows Liam (Donny) and Olsen (Kyle), buddies torn by circumstance.

Donny admitted it was a huge challenge for him to do fight scenes with Kyle, who is a close friend in real life.

"Malaking challenge for me because we've known each other as friends, we see each other sa work and nagkakasa-ma na kami sa events. But it's different when you're on set, it's different when you're co-actors, you know. And yung roles namin very different, kulang na lang magpatayan na sila. (It’s a big challenge for me because we’ve known each other as friends — we see each other at work, and we’ve been together at events. But it’s different when you’re on set, different when you're co-actors, you know. And in this project, our characters are completely different to the point that they want to kill each other)," Donny shared in an interview.

To make it work to their advantage, Donny would sit down with Kyle and discuss their fight scenes.

"We really had to make it a point to collaborate on how we're going to do it in a way that looks authentic without really ruining what we have in real life," Donny maintained.

Kyle, on his part, joked that after doing "Roja," they might no longer be friends simply because of the fight scenes.

Turning serious, he explained that their friendship is an actual advantage, as it helps them communicate better.