Eduardo Verástegui

EDUARDO VERASTEGUI is one of today's fastest rising Latino stars. A singer and actor, the Mexican-born Verastegui was seen in Jennifer Lopez's Ain't It Funny video, directed by the late Herb Ritts.

He currently is shooting an independent feature, My Gardener, with Carlos Ponce, in New Zealand.

As a member of the Latin American pop group Kairo, Verastegui recorded two albums and shot two accompanying music videos in Milan, Italy. Throughout a four-year tour, Kairo played sold out concerts throughout Latin America and the United States, establishing them as one of the most successful music groups in the Spanish speaking market.

Verastegui is well known for his roles in five soap operas as an exclusive artist for Televisa, the leading Latin American Telenovela network and production company. His novelas were seen in over 50 countries, and by over 10 million viewers in the United States. In addition, his soap operas achieved record-breaking ratings in major markets. In 1999, Verastegui was honoured with the Eres Best Actor award.

In 2001, the actor-singer signed a recording contract as a solo artist with Universal Music Latino. The self-titled album, 'Eduardo Verastegui,' is currently selling in 19 countries including the United States. In February 2002, he received the prestigious 'Best New Artist' award for his debut solo album from one of the most renowned Latin music award shows, Univision Networks, 14th Annual 'Premio Lo Nuestro.'

A native of Mexico, Eduardo currently divides his time between Miami and Los Angeles.

Not returning to the soaps

"I am not getting lost" Yo no sé perder" is a sentence characterizing Eduardo Verástegui very well, and it's the title of the first song of his debut album. This singing career made him rejecting an exclusive deal with Televisa extending over 7 years to star on soaps.

By Mary Carmen Santana G. Source: EsMas.com

Mexico City, June 2001.

Patience, courage, and economy have helped Eduardo to fulfill his dreams and aspirations, NOT the false rumours spread by some bad people, that nonsense of his so called '"love"" with the King of Pop Ricky Martin.

With black T-shirt and trousers and hairdo similar to Elvis Presly, an enthusiastic and warm Verástegui was welcomed by Esmas.com. The Televisa San Ángel channel interviewed him in a dressing room of the network.

The singer told the international press that his 14 months in the City of sunshine Miami were all but not that rosy.

""I kept the promise to return to Mexico with a album under my belt, and indeed this is what happened, showing once more that everything is possible and the sky is the limit when you keep having faith and trust in God. Then God will give you the opportunity to fulfil your boldest dreams""

Eduardo told before emigrating to an unknown country, he tried every available option to succeed in order to realize his dreams.

""I rejected a contract for 7 years with Televisa, to do 7 more soaps. By rejecting I tossed out of the window the possibility to live an economically stable life, and to pursue an active career as actor.

I strengthened myself, emptied my bank account deposits, and started all over again from point zero..

I am a man who likes challenges, without these life would be meaningless. I am not backing away from walking the tightrope, and to surpass obstacles. To me the average mean is dull and grey. When you are not willing to make sacrifices in life you do not appreciate the inner workings of life.

Before this interview was conducted, Eduardo was visited by his friend Adriana Fonseca who gave him a present, and some producers invited him to participate in their soaps.

""In Miami I am known for my work in the hispanic soaps ""telenovelas"", and everyday I was called with offers to star on telenovelas. Here the same, at this visit I was been offered 3 more telenovelas, but today it's easy for me to say no.

Imagine, having bold dreams, high hopes and aspirations, I am very much a dreamer, but with an empty fridge.. Imagine you are invited to do a telenovela, but you say no... I have had an internal struggle, but if you keep being faithful in every enterprise you embark upon, in the end you will succeed.

"" In México the rumours told he was living like a ""king"", living a luxurious life, and more vicious and of course false too: The worst nonsense rumour of them all: that rumour of the ""invitation"" by Ricky Martin.

With a smile Eduardo told one more time: ""Of course the rumour is false, but this one was so vicious and aggressive I was close to give up my career, because it's so depressive to keep on fighting these windmills of false and bad rumours. The waves of despressive feelings inside me were originating from my sub-consciousness, but I do not cave in, I do not yield.

About my stay in Miami, I rented a studio, with a kitchen. The good thing about this place was that it was in a neighbourhood where I could take singing classes, the beach was nearby, I had a gym to exercise, 2 rooms and best of all, I knew a lot of people there, like my friend Fernán Martínez. He believes in me, totally, and he's today my manager.

These are all the details about my apartment, however my situation was not very rosy I was able to pay all my bills and rentals, and even to continue to buy my favourite seafood: cans of tuna-fish.

"" Fact is that today Eduardo -who is a great lover of arts, especially paintings, and considers himself ""failed painter""- yet has achieved his boldest dreams. With thanks to the help of both his manager and friend Fernán Martinez, and the musical producer Estéfano.