Bulgaria’s Idol

Idolo en Bulgaria

Osvaldo Rios, the actor from the provinces of Puerto Rico is welcomed by the Bulgarian President, Petar Stoyanov, and the Archbishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Osvaldo Rios has been the most-watched Latin American actor in the world since his drama Kassandra stole the crown of TV dramas watched in the most places around the world from Los Ricos Tambien lloran (The Rich Also Cry) starring Mexican actress Veronica Castro. Kassandra has been sold in 138 countries throughout the world and has recently been introduced in India and Malaysia. Countries where the handsome Rios’ dramas?not only Kassandra but also Tres Destinos (Three Destinies) and more recently La Viuda De Blanco (Blanco’s Widow)?have been shown include China, Russia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Italy, Spain, African countries, all Latin American countries Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Armenia, and other Balkan countries.

Recently the actor was invited to Sophia in Bulgaria where not only was he greeted as a star by the general public and mass media, but also the Bulgarian president, Petar Stoyanov, and the archbishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Furthermore, a commemorative issue of the magazine Paralleli presented a special feature about him, detailing his entire career and showing photographs of him from when he was a baby. So that the issue, entitled 100% Osvaldo Rios, could go on sale during his visit to Bulgaria, the editor prepared questions for the actor in advance and sent then to Tepi Films, the distributor for TV dramas in Columbia. The numerous dramas in which Rios has starred are rebroadcast without fail in the Balkan countries.

“This is the first time I’m visited this country. Previously, when I was in Columbia, I did receive an invitation from the Bulgarian president, but I had to decline because we were in the middle of filming. When I arrived at the airport, about 5,000 people were waiting for me. I was overwhelmed by the kind, deeply affectionate way in which they treated me with love and respect.”

Rios spent two and a half weeks in Bulgaria, visiting the capital city, Sophia, and several other cities. During this time, as part of the arranged activities when he was invited, he participated in several interviews with members of the print media and television.

“When I visited parliament, it was snowing?apparently the first like it in 36 years?and there were people who had been there since 5 o’clock in the morning. I arrived at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and when I heard about this, I broke with the arrangement and went outside to say hello to these people. I also had an opportunity to meet people in Bulgaria’s movie industry and cultural figures, and that’s where I got the idea for a cultural exchange of Puerto Rican and Bulgarian films. I telephoned Jacobo Morales with the idea, and he seemed really taken with it.”

The main purpose of Rios’ visit to Bulgaria was a concert with other artists, held at Sophia’s National Palace of Culture, to raise funding for an orphanage. “Everyone knew all the songs, particularly the theme song from La Viuda De Blanco, which I sang. My album is going on sale over there very soon. About 6,000 people came to hear this concert, and the tickets were sold out before I even arrived in Bulgaria.”

Since Rios does not speak Bulgarian, he had an interpreter with him constantly. However, he did learn the basics?greetings, words of thanks, words of love. This was more than enough to make the women of Bulgaria faint.

“Bulgarian women are very sweet and pretty, but I think I prefer Caribbean women,” he teased.

The handsome actor received not only a hospitable reception but also many gifts. “I received five suitcases full of gifts. I couldn’t take them back with me on the airplane, so I had them mailed afterwards. Of the five suitcases, one was for my son, Giuliano. For my family, I am keeping oil paintings and handicrafts received from Bulgarian artists. They made muskets, old weapons, bronze and clay products, handcrafted statues, leather and cloth products, and classic Russian ballerina dolls. There are two old handcrafted knives, and the workmanship is superb.”

Rios uses one of these knives in his role as Salvador Lujan in Santa Esperanza (Holy Desire), which began filming in May. This TV drama stars Rios and actress Fedra Lopez. Rios also wrote and sings the theme song, which was arranged by Ito Serrano, and top musicians also collaborated.

On Sunday, April 27, TV Centro broadcast the Vicente Castro film Una Pasion In El Espejo (Passion in the Mirror), starring Osvaldo Rios, Johanna Rosaly, Jorge Luis Ramos, and Lourdes Chacon. Filming of Santa Esperanza, which has already been sold to 12 countries, is due to wrap up in September, after which Rios plans on going to Mexico to appear in a Delia Fiallo drama.

Regarding love interests, Rios insists there is no one special in his life at the moment. “I would like to be by myself for a while. I have so much work right now, it would be no good for anyone wishing to share a life with me, and no good for me, either.”