Why Ariel Rivera accepted the lead role in 'The Fake Life' after acting hiatus

Ariel Rivera will soon be back on your screens!

The actor will be playing Onats, one of the lead characters in GMA's upcoming drama series "The Fake Life."

In a mediacon on Friday, Ariel explained why he immediately accepted the role despite not working on acting projects for most of the past two years of pandemic.

"I thought it was time," he said. "The two years, I was not acting, I was doing a lot of concerts. So I thought I wanted to venture [into acting] again."

He added that as an artist, he was always looking for something to get his "blood flowing," and "The Fake Life" happened to be that.

"When this was offered to me I really was so happy, unexpectedly happy," he said.

Ariel said his role as Onats was a "more demanding character" for him.

"I've never been given this role where it was physically, emotionally demanding," he said.

"That was difficult to me, a lot of preparations that I had to do for this role, and continue to prepare for this day," he added.

He is also motivated to do his best because of his talented co-stars, which include his leading lady Beauty Gonzalez, and his onscreen rival Sid Lucero.

"Ang huhusay ng mga kasama ko," he said. "Kailangan we have to hold our own."

Ariel was last seen on a series titled "Unloving U," which premiered digitally in February 2021.

His last project with GMA was "Mulawin vs. Ravena" in 2017. —JCB, GMA News