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Nikki Gil eager to have viewers 'hate' her

Haters, get ready for the revamped Nikki Gil.

Shedding her sweet image, the singer and theater actress plays the kontrabida in the new ABS-CBN soap, “Mundo Man ay Magunaw.”

She plays Jennifer La Pena, a strong-willed heiress who longs for the acceptance of her family.

“Kaya ko ba ‘to?” Nikki thought when she got the role. 

“It’s something very new. Even in real life, my friends can attest to the fact that they’ve never seen me in a catfight or whatever,” Nikki said during a press conference for the soap in ABS-CBN last Wednesday, Jan. 18.
 
An ‘offbeat’ role she’s been waiting for

Despite the challenges of her role, Nikki didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to play the bad girl.

“I realized it was something I’ve been waiting for, something that I’ve always wanted to do, roles na medyo offbeat. Siyempre, hindi pinapalagpas ang mga ganyang roles,” she said.

When asked if she is worried about the possible violent reactions of the viewers to her character, Nikki said in jest, “Yan ang pinagdarasal ko na mangyari, na kamuhian ka ng mga tao!”

Nikki said that being hated on is a good gauge of how effective she is in her role.
 
No ‘peg’ for villain role

She also  gave herself a crash course in villainy to prepare for the role.

She began by watching the original movie on which the series is based, the 1990 drama starring Sheryl Cruz, Romnick Sarmenta, Susan Roces and Nida Blanca.

“Tinandaan ko yung mga pelikula na talagang na-affect ako… Madami akong pinanuod kasi what experiences I lack doing a teleserye, I had to make up doing a research,” said Nikki, who also revealed that this is the first full-blown soap she is going to be involved in.

Even after her research, Nikki resisted adopting a “peg” for her character and chose to interpret the role in her own way.

“Sabi nga ni Ms. Tessie (Tomas), pag nag-peg ka, hindi na ikaw yun. Hindi mo na sariling creation yun kung kokopyahin mo lang yung nuisances ng iba,” she said.
 
Longing for acceptance

Of her character, she mused, “Behind the kontrabida façade, insecure siya na gusto niyang patunayan na she’s worth her lola’s affirmation.”

She admitted being able to relate to these feelings. “Siyempre, lahat naman tayo dito sa industriya, we long for acceptance. We long na sabihan tayo na, ‘Yes you’re doing a good thing, you’re on the right track.’”

“Mundo Man ay Magunaw” airs every afternoon on ABS-CBN beginning Jan. 30.  It also stars Empress Schuck, Ejay Falcon, Allan Paule, Dianne Medina, Alex Castro and Jason Gainza.