He overcame all kinds of “obstacles.” That’s how actor Rafael Amaya describes his character and the Telemundo series ‘El Señor de los Cielos’; some of them were legal issues or even the use of language in a decade (the early 2010s) when it wasn’t common to see a story about a powerful drug lord in a country plagued by organized crime.
Today everything is easier, you can swear or speak colloquially, it’s different in series. But, for example, there are still people who say it’s an apology for drug trafficking, I don’t know what. And it’s something I see everywhere. “We’re telling stories so people can have fun, be entertained, enjoy themselves, and identify with what we’re experiencing in Mexico, because that’s what we’re living through,” Rafael maintains in an interview. The final season, which premiered this week, will have that same tone: it will tell stories based on truth, Amaya asserts, an ingredient that has distinguished him throughout his nearly 12 years of playing Aurelio Casillas.
“We spent almost two years preparing, researching, reading everything I needed to read, and thoroughly investigating my character. It was delayed due to legal issues, because of questions like, ‘How come a story like this has never been told before? We’ve only ever seen the classic telenovelas on this network. So, how are you going to produce something like this? The thing is, it’s broadcast television,’ they questioned us. But we were prepared; now I just go with the flow, I know the character inside and out,” Amaya explains. But everything comes to an end, and for him, the time has come to say goodbye to Aurelio, a character who in real life was one of the most recognizable faces of organized crime, but for Amaya, it’s like parting ways with a loved one.
“Well, it’s like saying goodbye to the friend who teaches you things, the wise friend who teaches you so much. It has been difficult, because we planned this last one ourselves. It was planned. And being part of the story’s development as an executive producer, I wanted it to be fair and also a tribute to the audience. And to all the seasons, to the entire saga, a tribute. And I’m very happy to close this chapter like this,” he says. But it’s not the end for him as an actor, and much less as a producer. Rafael is leaving the door open and will continue exploring the universe he already knows.
“There are things coming related to the structure of ‘El Señor de los Cielos,’ based on real life. Because they say, ‘If you’re going to tell a story, make it about something you know very well.'” And if I know anything, it’s about “El Señor de los Cielos” (The Lord of the Skies). And well, it’s not going to be “El Señor de los Cielos,” but there are many stories that deserve to be told. And well, because many very good stories have been told, and what a waste, I think they haven’t taken full advantage of the opportunity. Now pass me the ball. I’m going to the penalty area,” he says.
