Talk about the idea of being in a love team as a tool for fame was hot topic recently.
Thanks to Liza Soberano expressing her two cents about it.
In a press conference for his movie "Sa Muli," Xian Lim was asked about it having been in a love team as well with real life partner Kim Chiu.
"I think, yes, mahirap," he admitted, relating how he wanted to opt out of it at one point.
He went on to expound: "I wouldn't really use the term kumawala kasi, of course, meron pong fear nu'ng una po naming pinag-usapan yun."
But according to him, he and Kim eventually decided not to work together as often after finishing the romantic comedy-drama film "Past Tense."
"We had a talk. Sabi namin sa isa't-isa - I think it's just healthy. Parang ni-lay talaga agad namin yung cards na: 'After this should we keep on working with each other or should we accept projects na iba naman yung makakatrabaho natin?' So parang we come to terms na: 'Okay, maybe we have to pause for a bit and work with others for us to be able to grow individually,'" he shared.
The move proved harder than he expected.
"Yung hirap na part, kasi siyempre parang ma-mi-miss niyo talaga yung isa't-isa. Tapos gamay niyo na rin yung isa't-isa e and it works e. Kumbaga yun yung hinahanap ng tao."
As hard it is for them to dump the love team concept, Xian now believes it was healthy for them as a couple, maintaing time apart helped them grow individually as artists.
At the moment, Xian is enjoying the chance working with different leading ladies.
He is seen on TV with Ashley Ortega via "Hearts On Ice."
In "Sa Muli," he is paired with Ryza Cenon.
Xian admitted to "stalking" Ryza if only to get to know her better.
"I think it's just having that respect for your co-actress. Para lang din may konting rapport kasi mahirap pag-clean slate, kapag wala talagang pinagsamahan - hindi mo alam how are you gonna work with each other - so it's really tricky kasi mag-kaiba yung mundo nin'yo," he explained.
"Maliit man ito, it helps to have something to talk about," he maintained.
Xian admitted he was "shy" and "uncomfortable" at first interacting with Ryza.
But they were able to build chemistry later on.
"Sa hirap po ng pinagdaanan namin ni Ryza, dahil ang daming nangyari in our personal lives, sa mundo but yet we have to push through in filming this... It just go to show na kung naniniwala po talaga sa isang proyekto walang makaka-apekto dun," he said.
He summed up: "It's really fun working with her."
"I think si Ryza kasi, she looks like she has a thick wall, parang di ka kakausapin at may sarili lang siyang mundo but once makuha mo yung kiliti niya, I think dire-diretsyo na siya sa kakulitan niya. Which is very tricky pero nahanap naman namin sa isa't-isa yun kahit papaano sa tatlong taon."