Zanjoe Marudo juggles film and fatherhood, leads the cast of Ogie Diaz-produced ‘How To Get Away From My Toxic Family’
Zanjoe Marudo is beaming. The joy of new fatherhood is evident as he shares a video of his baby with reporters at the story conference for his latest film, “How To Get Away From My Toxic Family.” This project marks his return to the big screen after a period of carefully selecting roles that truly resonate with him.
“Hindi ko iniisip yung face reveal o name reveal. Pag may gustong makita, pinapakita ko, sinasabi ko yung pangalan. Pero hindi naman sa ia-announce ko sa buong… sa online,” he shares, explaining his and wife Ria Atayde’s decision to keep their child out of the public eye for now. “Masyado pa siyang bata, masyado pa siyang maliit. Wala pa siyang two months, e. Parang… I don’t think… hindi ko makita yung point kung bakit siya i-expose sa online.”
Zanjoe’s protectiveness is clear. “Proteksiyon din e, kasi alam niyo naman ngayon marami na ring nag-identity theft sa social media, ang dami nang mga fake news. So, huwag na lang,” he adds, hinting that a family photo might be a possibility in the future. “Hindi natin maiwasan and malay mo, next week o next month, sa Christmas may family photo kami. Siguro mas magandang timing, mas maganda, mas proper at mas tamang set-up as family.”
A New Role: Embracing Fatherhood
The arrival of their baby has undeniably transformed Zanjoe and Ria’s world. “Sobrang laki. Mas nag-mature, mas naging ano kami sa mga decision namin. Mas tumibay yung pagiging partner namin. Mas naging kakampi kami sa lahat ng bagay,” Zanjoe confesses. “Alam mo yung parang hindi niyo pinag-usapan, pero biglang may isa kayong…meron kayong common ano na may poprotektahan tayong bata. Meron tayong isang tao na mahal na mahal natin na gagawin natin para dito para maprotektahan para suportahan.”
The experience of witnessing his child’s birth was profound. “Hindi ako naiyak right after, kasi iniintindi ko rin yung asawa ko, yung misis ko. Pero nung narinig ko yung iyak, dun ako parang na-stun,” he recounts. “Sa totoo lang, may bata, may umiiyak na, may anak na kami. Ayan na siya. Kabadung-kabado ako, nanginginig ako nung time na yun. Nung nakita ko yung face na, okay na. Ang sarap ng feeling. Hindi ko ma-explain.”
He continues, “Hindi ko alam kung saan ko kukunin yung kasiyahan, yung kaba, yung ganung feeling bilang ama. So, iba yung pakiramdam. Hindi ko pa naramdaman ever, kung ano yung feeling. Kahit na umaarte ako na may ganung eksena, hindi pala ganun, yung ginagawa ko sa mga ganung scenes.”
Returning to the Screen: “How To Get Away From My Toxic Family”
While Ria focuses on their newborn, Zanjoe is stepping back into the spotlight with “How To Get Away From My Toxic Family,” a film produced by Ogie Diaz. Ogie reveals that Zanjoe was their first and only choice for the lead role. “Kinausap na namin siya noong una, e, um-oo na siya. So, saka pa lang kami magdi-discuss kung ayaw ni Zanjoe. E, si Zanjoe, umoo agad,” Ogie explains.
The film, which also stars Susan Africa, Nonie Buencamino, Lesley Lina, Richard Quan, Juharra Asayo, and Keena Pineda, centers around a family grappling with complex dynamics. Ogie emphasizes the importance of casting actors who resemble each other to create a believable family unit. “Kung mapapansin ninyo, isa silang pamilya dito. Kaya kinuha namin yung mga halos kahawig ni Zanjoe,” he notes.
The story, penned by John Bedia and directed by Law Fajardo, was inspired by the Thai hit “How To Get Millions Before Grandma Dies.” Ogie, who handpicked the script, describes the film as a poignant exploration of family struggles. “Di ba, reporter ako. Nag-iinterview ako. Tapos, tungkol sa family. Problema sa pamilya. Parang napag-isa-isa ko na sila,” he says. “Yun ang diniscuss ko kay Ethel. Hindi namin kayang mag-CGI, hindi namin kayang mag-effects. E, di, gumawa tayo ng magandang kuwento. Kaya kung titingnan ninyo, ang mga artista namin, hindi siya sobrang mga kilala talaga. Pero, magagaling umarte.”
“How To Get Away From My Toxic Family” promises to be a moving story that explores the complexities of familial relationships. With Zanjoe at its center, the film is sure to deliver a powerful and unforgettable cinematic experience when it hits SM cinemas on January 22, 2025.
