Kyle and Kai on finding effortless chemistry as Team HaNie in "MMK: Makeup Story"

It may have been their first time teaming up onscreen, but Kyle Echarri and Kai Montinola managed to spark an effortless chemistry in the latest "Maalaala Mo Kaya" episode, where they bring to life the story of content creators and couple Hajie Alejandro and Lenie Aycardo, also known as Team Hanie. 

Kyle and Kai are thrilled with the positive feedback they’ve been receiving from viewers who already caught the episode on iWant, as it meant they were able to relay Hajie and Lenie’s story in a way that captures the lessons and hope that came with it. "We got the message that we were trying to get across," said Kyle. "Nakakataba ng puso na kahit papaano ang daming natuwa sa tandem naming dalawa." The young stars' chemistry came through so naturally probably because they found a strong connection from both being Cebuanos. "It's very nice to be able to speak Bisaya to each other," shared Kyle as he talked about their off-cam dynamic. 

Kyle also recalled being excited when he first found out that he was going to be paired with Kai, saying he had already heard a lot of good things about the newcomer, and the rumors were true about her being naturally talented. Kyle was admittedly surprised with Kai's performance, considering this is one of her first major acting projects. "Sobrang nagulat ako na first time niya 'to. Especially for someone new, siyempre 'yung pressure nandu'n, lalo na first lead role niya, ‘MMK,’ pero hindi siya nagpahuli. And she showed na kayang-kaya niya at may place siya sa industry na 'to." 

Their Kapamilya Chat guesting showed just how comfortable they are with each other. She kept him laughing with her occasional quirkiness and unfiltered honesty, like when she recalled her reaction upon learning about the material, "Sabi ko, ‘Wow! Mag-e-‘MMK’ na, kasama pa si Kyle Echarri!’”

Kilig soared high in the Kapamilya Chat studio as Kyle and Kai tried to come up with the best word to describe their working experience together, until he settled for “lambing,” which he thinks sums up how they supported each other throughout the shoot and mirrors how Hajie and Lenie are in real life. "Sa pagkuwento kina Lenie and Hajie, very sweet naman talaga sila, very loving. That's how we went through the whole process. Kumakapit lang kami sa isa't isa lalo na kung pagod na, 'Let's do this! Let's go!' Hindi mo kami mapaghiwalay sa buong taping. And it was fun to work with her that way," Kyle divulged, to which Kai agreed, recalling a moment on set when she noticed him being quiet and exhausted, so she asked if he was okay, and all he said was that he just needed a hug. 

Prior to filming, they went through a series of workshop sessions to help them break into their characters and build chemistry. Observation was also a huge part of their prep. Even before getting the full script, Kai had already started binge-watching videos of Team Hanie just to familiarize herself with Lenie’s mannerisms, so that by the time she was reading her lines, she could already picture exactly how Lenie would say or move through each scene. Meanwhile, Kyle also took time to observe Hajie closely, since Team Hanie was present on set and even helped with a few key scenes, such as in recreating some of their viral makeup transformation videos. Kyle and Kai are thankful that the couple were open and generous with their story. They were right there to guide the actors anytime they had a question or needed clarity on even the smallest details. 

“I had too much fun,” gushed Kai when asked which part of filming she enjoyed the most, and she said "everything," which Kyle echoed. But if there was one part that challenged her, it would be the scene during their first taping day where she had to get mad at Kyle’s character and ended up stumbling over a word. She got frustrated with herself for messing up that line, but in the end, it worked to her advantage because that frustration blended into the character’s anger so it all came through naturally on cam.

For Kyle, it was both a challenge and an honor to share a confrontation scene with Lotlot de Leon, who played his mother in the story. "Ang galing niya talaga! Napaka-giving na actress. Sobrang naramdaman ko siya sa eksena na 'yun," he said of the seasoned actress. Right after that confrontation, director Onat Diaz asked him to deliver a breakdown scene that wasn’t originally in the script. Though it caught him off guard, he was game for it and just soaked in the pain of Hajie's real-life experiences to fuel his 'hugot.' 

One of the lessons Kyle took from portraying Hajie’s story in "MMK" was the importance of self-acceptance, of loving yourself for who you are and not letting other people’s opinion define you. "Mahalin mo ang sarili mo kung ano ka, sino ka, at sino ang gusto mo. Nasa sa'yo 'yan. Wala kang kailangan patunayan sa iba." He pressed that understanding one's core is what builds real confidence, the kind that makes it easier to tune out judgment. "I know who I am," he added, "so why would I have to adjust to what they think of me?"

Kai was equally firm in calling out the toxic mindset of people who try to place others in rigid boxes. "We are all different people. Yes, we follow norms. Yes, we follow something, a standard, especially in the Philippines, pero iba-iba pa rin tayo. And we cannot judge a person for what they do, for how they look on the surface," she said, with Kyle seated beside her looking both impressed and amused. And with a tone that was candid and cutting, she served it straight, "You're judging. Why? You must be so insecure." 

The two then confidently responded to fan-submitted questions, including one asking about the story behind their nicknames for each other—“Dodong” for Kyle and “Inday” for Kai—which they explained are commonly used by Cebuanos to refer to a boy and a girl, respectively. 

When asked what genre they would like to take on next should they be paired again, both answered “rom-com” in unison, with Kyle saying that rom-com suits Kai's quirky charm.

Given that both actors have musical backgrounds, it’s not hard to imagine them pulling off a musical project too. As the episode wrapped, the two offered an impromptu duet of Ariana Grande’s “Almost,” showing off their vocals, and chemistry that's also on full display in "MMK: Makeup Story" 

Catch Kyle and Kai as Team HaNie this Saturday at 8:30 PM on "MMK: Makeup Story," airing on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and A2Z.

*Photo credit to Hajie Alejandro IG