A few days before the June 11 opening of romantic drama, “Only We Know,” the question remains hanging: Do the film’s lead stars, Charo Santos and Dingdong Dantes, get to kiss or show a bit of intimacy in the film?

Those behind the film, including writer-director Irene Villamor, would rather keep mum on the subject, preferring that audiences find out for themselves.

Suffice it to say, “Only We Know” is a romance film about two people with a certain age gap who strike an unlikely yet intimate bond.

Before a special preview of the film recently, to which we were invited personally by Charo herself, our small group of Charo friends and co-workers was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement that stated we couldn’t divulge certain elements in the film prior to its actual opening.  Are they, or aren’t they? That’s another question yet to be settled.

What’s essential, Charo and Dingdong said during a media huddle May 26, is the beautiful journey of their characters, Betty and Ryan, something that transcends relationship labels and norms.

Charo adds, “It is a story about love, however you want to define it. Love between two people - no labels. We learned how to not be afraid to go with the flow. It’s about finding love in each other, a beautiful  relationship.”“It’s also a story about redefining labels,” says Dingdong.

“Must all relationships be labelled?”Viewers will get to know the free-spirited character of Betty,  a retired English teacher dealing with the uncertainties of life after retirement.

Betty meets a dashing young man in Ryan,  a grief-stricken engineer  mourning the sudden loss of his wife.It follows that their deepening friendship helps them cope with their own loneliness.

Charo, former ABS-CBN president and industry icon, recalled how, during a crucial scene, she got scolded with a scream by her director.

Villamor probably sensed she was holding back in her portrayal of Betty during an intimate moment with Ryan.

After a few takes, the director screamed at her, reminding her that in that particular moment, she wasn’t Ma’am Charo, her corporate persona. She was Betty, and Betty’s bold, unafraid. Now a mature woman who has seen it all, she could take on whatever salt or grime life threw her way.

Charo said she took a deep breath, looked at herself in the mirror, just like how Meryl Streep assessed her aging body in front of a life-size mirror in The Bridges of Madison County, and ordered her inner self to step up to the plate. To embrace her character’s vulnerable, yet gritty, side, just like Meryl did.

As Betty, Charo had to drink a few glasses of wine, and sometimes, beer, until she actually felt tipsy during the take. It was a first in her decades-long career as an actress. Yet, she loved the experience.

In a Facebook post, Charo wrote: “I always look forward to the opportunity to tell exciting stories, portraying challenging roles. I want to stay active. I want to stay engaged.  I still want to continue to learn, to discover things.

”In exploring new territory, an unfamiliar terrain, Charo proves her career as an actor, as an artist, continues to be a work in progress. Her fans, including this Charonian, eagerly await the next chapter in her evolution. 

(“Only We Know,”  produced by Cornerstone Studios, AgostoDos Pictures, Star Cinema, and 7K Entertainment, also stars Shamaine Buencamino,  Al Tantay, Max Collins, Johnny Revilla, Rafa Siguion Reyna, Gil Cuerva).