MANILA, Philippines — Two years into showbiz, Atasha Muhlach continues to savor the moment. So far, she has done TV hosting, recording music and acting — all while carving a name for herself, and not just Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez’s daughter.
In an exclusive virtual chat with The Philippine STAR, she offered this life update: “Life so far has been very, very good. For me, personally, feeling ko sobrang blessed na blessed po talaga ako kasi… gusto ko lang magtrabaho.”
“Now that we’re here in the midst of it all and I’m looking back at it, dami pong nangyayari and it’s more than I could ever ask for kasi sobrang love na love ko po yung work ko,” Atasha further shared with this writer.
Juggling multiple creative pursuits, she said she never really thought about how to “balance” them all. “It wasn’t that thought process of kailangan ko i-balance lahat ito,” she explained.
“It was more of — I wanna try it because the best place and time talaga to start is now.
“What more now because it’s the start of my career. I have nothing to really hide. I know my flaws and I’m happy to learn. And I’m so lucky that people are allowing me to learn and supporting me along that journey.”
Her acting debut, Viva One’s Filipino series adaptation of the Thai film “Bad Genius,” has been an emotional challenge that pushed her to discover what else she could do.
In the series, she plays the lead character Lynn, a brilliant high schooler who comes up with an elaborate exam-cheating scheme to make money. The show’s lead cast includes Jairus Aquino, Hyacinth Callado and Gab Lagman. Director is Derick Cabrido.
“It taught me a lot in terms of the heavy emotions my character, Lynn, is sobrang layo po sa personality ko.
“For me, it was such a treat to be able to explore the realness, the stress, yung kaba when you’re cheating in an exam,” she said.
“Actually, ito po yung first time ko na-experience yung real na cheating (although it’s acting), like ganito kalalim na cheating. But at the end of the story, as episodes go by, you start to see why.”
Now airing on free TV via TV5, every Saturday at 5:15 p.m., “Bad Genius” somehow marks a full-circle moment for Atasha.
“To be honest, I started on TV5 through ‘Eat Bulaga.’ So for me, it’s really touching (that the show is airing on TV5). We already put in our best efforts. We gave it our 100 percent. When it aired on Viva One, sobrang tuwa po kaming lahat kasi it was like, wow, this is really happening,” she said.
“For me, it was surreal because this is my 10-year-old dream coming true. Now I’m just so excited for the projects to come and I’m so, so grateful. Thank you po kay MVP (TV5 boss Manny V. Pangilinan) and to the whole TV5 family for loving all of us like family.”
Meanwhile, portraying morally gray characters comes with its own challenges. “It wasn’t a matter of reconciling the character because as you watch, you’re gonna start realizing kung bakit,” she said.
“It wasn’t intended — the intention wasn’t bad as bad as it may seem,” she explained. “In terms of doing these scenes, it’s a gift for an actor to be able to act in scenarios that are usually universally not allowed. To be able to go through that, experience that, and feel those emotions — it’s a treat talaga.”
When asked if she watches her own performances, Atasha admitted she can be her toughest critic. “I’m very O.C., very perfectionist. Gusto ko yung tama lang. Pero minsan of course we’re all human. We all make mistakes. When I see the scene, I’m happy because ‘ah, umabot pa ako dito.’ I get to see a different side of Atasha — a more serious side,” she said.
“During the time of taping, to be honest, to make pagpag sa heavy scenes, it was the easiest because kasama ko si direk and yung mga co-stars ko. Every time nag-‘Cut!’ sa scene, all of us are laughing. We had a great time. We didn’t feel like working.”
After “Bad Genius,” Atasha’s next acting project is the comedy-drama, “Everyone knows Every Juan,” where she shares scenes with a powerhouse cast. The Viva-produced film is directed by Alessandra de Rossi.
“(It’s) another blessing, thank you po Lord,” she said.
She said she found herself in awe of the veteran actors during the film shoot.
“Nakikita ko po sa rehearsal iba yung atake nila and I learned so much from that,” Atasha shared.
Even though she practically grew up in the industry, surrounded by her celebrity parents’ celebrity friends, the newbie actress confessed that she still gets starstruck, even at her co-stars in “Everyone Knows Every Juan,” now opening in cinemas nationwide.
“Pag nakita ko si Sir Edu Manzano in person, si Joel Torre, Ronnie Lazaro, Gina Alajar, si Ruby Ruiz — lahat sila sobrang magaling,” she said. “(How they are in person) just goes to show, the more grounded you are, the longer you stay (in the business).”