MANILA, Philippines - ?I will never forget him. Binulabog n?ya ang buhay ko,? said sexy actress Ara Mina of boxing champ and part-time actor Manny Pacquiao, her leading man in the action film ?Anak ng Kumander.?

?Ayaw ko nang ma-experience ulit ?yun,? the actress added with a hint of annoyance.

Ara was referring to the controversies that hounded the making of the movie, the most outrageous of which was that she caused lovesick Manny?s abrupt return to Manila while training in the United States for his rematch with Mexican rival Marco Antonio Barrera.

Then there was the rumor that Jinkee, Manny?s wife and the film?s co-producer, disapproved the release of publicity photos out of jealousy because they showed Manny and Ara in sweet and playful poses.

Jinkee also supposedly tried to keep promoters from hiring Ara to sing the Philippine National Anthem in the Pacquiao-Barrera fight.

New year, fresh start

?Over sa publicity ang pelikulang ?yun,? Ara told entertainment reporters over lunch on Thursday. ?I?ve worked with a lot of action stars like the late FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.) and Ace Vergel. Hindi naman gano?ng intriga ang inabot ko.?

Ara said she just wanted to forget the ?stressful? experience. ?This is a new year, I want a fresh start. I want to be relieved of all the stress. Tapusin na ang mga intriga.?

Ara met the press to talk about her first indie movie, ?Selda,? where she plays wife to an ex-convict, portrayed by Sid Lucero. ?Selda? is the second film of Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos, makers of the highly acclaimed romantic drama ?Ilusyon.?

?I worked on ?Anak ng Kumander? and ?Selda? simultaneously,? Ara said. ?There was a big difference in the set of the two films. Wala kasing intrigahan sa ?Selda.? I feel calm and relaxed when I?m around this group.?

In ?Selda,? Ara is Sita, reticent wife to Rommel, who accidentally kills a boy and gets incarcerated. In prison, Rommel meets Esteban (Emilio Garcia), who becomes his protector and lover. Years later, Rommel and Esteban?released from prison?meet and rekindle their love affair.

Ara, who took a break from sexy flicks, has a series of steamy love scenes with Sid in ?Selda.?

?I?ve done this before. There?s nothing I can?t do for a good film,? she stressed. ?Although we?re really not selling this for its bed scenes.?

?Selda? will be screened from Feb. 13 to 19 at the Robinsons Galleria IndieSine in Mandaluyong City. The movie also features Michael de Mesa, Soliman Cruz, Ping Medina and Allan Paule.