Although she downplayed the possibility of romance, Maja Salvador revealed that Kim Bum, her Korean leading man in a new TV commercial for a soft drink company, gave her perfume as a birthday gift.

"Nag-shopping po kasi siya. Nabilhan niya ako ng thank-you and birthday gift," said she in the “Nagsimula sa Puso” press huddle, Oct. 6.

Maja has an inkling of how Kim found out about her fondness for the perfume brand he gave.

“'Yun yong gamit ko sa shooting (namin), so siguro, nakita niya kaya Dolce & Gabbana po ang ibinigay niya sa akin."

Working with the Korean star was a breeze and there was no language barrier between them at all, said Maja.

"Nakakaintindi naman siya ng English."

Maja's career is in full bloom nowadays. Aside from the TV commercial and the new soap, other projects are being lined-up for her.

It’s a far cry from the time TV projects meant for her were being shelved one after the other for unknown reasons. Maja was supposed to star in the planned TV remake of “Anna Liza” as well as a romantic soap called “Moon River.”

"Noong nagte-taping (na) kami (ng ‘Nagsimula sa Puso’), kinakabahan ako na baka hindi (na naman) matuloy. Tumodo po ako ng pag-pray, (sabi ko) ‘Bro, sana matuloy,’” she confessed.

Maja is more daring as an actress in “Nagsimula Sa Puso.” Not only did she engage in steamy love scenes but torrid kissing scenes, too, with her leading men Jason Abalos and Coco Martin.

"Tapos na ang pa-tweetums ko. Inihanda ko na ang sarili ko sa mature roles. Kung ano ang kaya kong gawin, gagawin ko," declared she who watched Angelina Jolie’s “Original Sin” to get a feel for her role.

“Nagsimula sa Puso” will air on Oct. 12.