MANILA -- Kapamilya star Zaijian Jaranilla, who has grown from a charming child actor to a young heartthrob, hopes to further break away from the “Santino” image long associated with him through his new role in Puregold Channel’s provocative digital series “Si Sol at si Luna.”

While grateful for his successful run in the hit series “May Bukas Pa,” he explained that he wants to continue showcasing new facets of his craft that will highlight his versatility and depth as an actor.

“Sobrang out of my comfort zone. Big step siya for me… Achievement siya for me nakagawa ako ng bagong mapapakita sa tao,” he said in an interview during the special screening held in Quezon City on Thursday.

Jaranilla admitted he was initially nervous about how audiences would react to his steamy scenes with co-star Jane Oineza. However, much to his relief, the public responded positively after the release of the trailer, which featured the two sharing a passionate kiss.

The scene, which marked Jaranilla’s first on-screen kiss, quickly went viral and sparked playful reactions online, with fans teasing, “Nagpaalam ka ba kay Bro? ” and “Alam ba ni Bro ’yan? ” — comments that Jaranilla welcomed.

“Sobrang  happy kasi kahit papano, nakita ko reaction nila. Halo-halo. Nagulat sila sa transformation,” he said.

The actor revealed the highly anticipated digital series also challenged him with his first intimate scene.

“Mental talaga preparation. Sobrang out of my comfort zone. Big step siya for me,” he said.

Acclaimed filmmaker Dolly Dulu, meanwhile, stressed the importance of trust and professionalism in creating those vulnerable moments on their set.

“It was about respecting each other’s bounderies. Nabasa naman nila script and alam na nila it was part of the story. We focused on how to make them feel comfortable doing it. Paano paghandaan ngayon. Kailangan maramdaman na safe working environment. Klinaro ano lang pwede gawin,” Dulu explained.

According to producer Chris Cahilig, the 13-episode series promises arresting visuals and heartfelt storytelling.

“Ang lala ng script. It will hook you. Every Saturday, meron ka anticipate,” he teased.

The pilot episode, titled Babae sa Bus, follows Sol (Jaranilla), a film student challenged to create a documentary that leads him to Luna (Oineza), a woman silently burdened by her own grief.

“Ang dami puntahan ng kwento, dami mapunta sa characters. Ang dami magaganap per epsiode,” Oineza said.

“Si Sol at si Luna,” which will explore longing, grief, and love amid life’s many complexities, is set to premiere on Saturday, May 31, on YouTube.

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