Aljur Abrenica considers Machete a dream come true. He's been eyeing this project since three years ago when he first heard that there might be a TV adaptation of the '90s movie.

That's the reason, says the StarStruck: The Next Level Ultimate Hunk, he frequents the gym—to achieve a fit and healthy body.

"Isa po talaga 'yong Machete, sa mga pinaghahandaan ko," Aljur says.

The 20 year-old actor thinks the lead character fits him perfectly: "Si Machete kasi, lalaking-lalaki ang dating, moreno, at Filipino."

Like Cesar Montano and Gardo Versoza, who both played Machete in movies, Aljur says he'll be wearing only a bahag ( loin-cloth usually worn by native men in the Cordilleras) in most of his scenes.

So, how is he preparing for these scenes? It can be remembered that Aljur already bared his sculpted upper body in the last two Cosmo Bachelor Bash events.

"Regular workouts at the gym and ngayon nagdadag pa ako ng physical activity, ang Wushu.  Hindi lang po ito sa pagbubuhat," answers Aljur.

With his busy schedule right now, Aljur says he's lucky to be able to go to the gym every other day. When he has a lot of free time, though, the Kapuso actor visits the gym more often. 

As for his diet, the Kapuso actor tells PEP (Philippine Entrtainment Portal) that he is not as strict as the other serious body-buiilders. "May pina-follow po akong diet pero as of now, wala muna. Nag-e-enjoy lang muna ako," he says.

CESAR MONTANO SAYS OK. Aside from getting the role of Machete without having to audition for it, Aljur is also grateful that one of the actors who played Machete, Cesar Montano, gives his approval.

Aljur worked with the award-winning actor in his last teleserye Illumina but was not yet aware of his Machete project.

"Sayang nga, e. Kung nalaman ko lang agad, sana nakausap ko siya. Pero kapag nakakausap ko siya, marami po talagang advices at tips na makakatulong talaga.

"Sobrang natameme ako sa sobrang galak, sobrang saya, sobrang tuwa kasi 'yong support ni Mr. Cesar Montano ay nasa akin. At sobrang humanga po talaga ako sa kanya, wala akong masabi. Si Cesar Montano, kahit papaano, ay kino-consider ko po talaga na mentor ko."

Catch Aljur Abrenica as a wooden statue that comes to life on Machete, which will start airing on January 2011 on GMA Telebabad.