How Kapuso artist Addy Raj fell in love with the Philippines

Kahit na wala siyang lahing Pinoy, aminado ang Indian singer-actor na si Addy Raj na hindi siya nahirapang mahalin ang Pilipinas mula nang una siyang bumisita rito.

Dalawang buwang naging exchange student ang aktor, at sa loob nga ng maikling panahon, napag-desisyonan niyang dito na manirahan atmag-trabaho.

Sa kaniyang contract signing bilang pinakabagong talent ng GMA Artist Center, ibinahagi ni Addy kung bakit itinuring niya nang tahanan ang Pilipinas.

Kabilang na rito ang makulay na kultura at masasarap na pagkaing Pinoy.

Aniya, “There are so many things I like about the Philippines—the people, the culture, the food, the weather. A lot of people in the Philippines say that they don't like the weather, but for me, I love it. When I was exchanging, I was always falling sick, but not here.”

Ngunit ang isang bagay raw na talagang naging dahilan ng labis na pagkahumaling niya sa bansa ay ang mga tao rito.

“The most important thing that made me stay was the fact that whenever I'm walking along the road, even when I have just been in the Philippines for a few weeks, I smile at random strangers and they always smile back. That's something that really made me stay,” paliwanag niya.

LOOK: Addy Raj with Kapuso Network's top executives @gmanews pic.twitter.com/dJapSs8oaD

— Bianca Rose Dabu (@biancadabu) November 21, 2016

Kabilang ngayon si Addy sa apat na leading men ng Kapuso actress na si Barbie Forteza para sa GMA romatic comedy Primetime series na “Meant To Be.”

Maliban sa acting workshops, kabilang rin sa paghahandang ginagawa niya ang pag-aaral ng Filipino, na araw-araw niya umanong ginagawa simula nitong Pebrero.

Ayon sa kaniya, “This is my first time working with GMA. I'm pretty sure I'm in good hands. I'm really excited and I really hope that the Kapuso family will accept me.”

Barbie Forteza will star in GMA primetime series #MeantToBe with four leading men: Addy Raj, Jak Roberto, Ken Chan, Ivan Dorschner @gmanews pic.twitter.com/HZfqMICb4r

— Bianca Rose Dabu (@biancadabu) November 21, 2016

'Filipino singer'

Hindi pa man masyadong hasa sa pagsasalita ng Filipino, nakilala na si Addy dahil sa kaniyang nakakabilib na pag-awit ng mga kantang Pinoy.

Pag-amin niya, hindi niya pa naiintindihan noon ang mga ipinapaawit sa kaniya.

Kuwento ni Addy, “I was forced to sing it for a pageant. I sang it to the contestants, but I had no idea what I was saying. They told me, 'Just smile and pretend that you're in love.'”

“Dati, hindi talaga ako kumakanta ng kahit ano. Nagsimula ako dito sa Pilipinas dahil lahat ng tao, talagang magaling kumanta,” dagdag pa niya.

WATCH: Indian artist Addy Raj serenades us with "Ako'y Sa Iyo, Ika'y Akin." #MeantToBeKapuso He will also star in GMA's new series @gmanews pic.twitter.com/FhltXCTZ4A

— Bianca Rose Dabu (@biancadabu) November 21, 2016

Abangan sina Addy at Barbie sa Kapuso Primetime series na  “Meant To Be,” kung saan bibida rin sina Jak Roberto, Ken Chan, Ivan Dorschner, at marami pang iba. — RSJ, GMA News