Amores verdaderos (English: True Love) is a Mexican telenovela produced by Nicandro Díaz González for Televisa. It is based on the 2005 Argentine telenovela Amor en custodia, created by Marcela Citterio. It stars an ensemble cast led by Erika Buenfil, Eduardo Yáñez, Eiza González and Sebastián Rulli. The telenovela aired on Canal de las Estrellas from 3 September 2012 to 12 May 2013. In the United States, it aired on Univision from 7 November 2012 to 28 July 2013.
Contents
Plot
The story begins when Victoria Balvanera, the owner of a huge mansion and a prestigious advertising agency, suffers an attempted kidnapping on the family farm; José Ángel Arriaga, who comes to request the position of foreman for him, saves her from the criminals. After this altercation, Victoria decides to hire Arriaga as her personal bodyguard, and the times they spend together will cause a true love to emerge between them, but their love is impossible as they are both married respectively.
Victoria is the wife of Nelson Brizz, who married her only for her interest. Their daughter, Nikki, is a capricious and haughty young woman who keeps her serious problem of bulimia and anorexia a secret. Nikki adores her parents and her grandfather Aníbal Balvanera, a regal, domineering and shrewd man who manipulates the lives of her daughters Victoria and Adriana. When Victoria discovers that Nelson has an affair with supermodel Kendra Ferreti and she is going to have a child with him, Victoria demands for a divorce but Nelson refuses to leave; on the other hand, Arriaga suffers the loss of his wife Cristina Corona, who died in an accident shortly after learning that she was Aníbal's daughter and a result of the relationship that her mother had with him many years ago.
Arriaga's daughter Liliana mourns the loss of her supposed mother without knowing that her real mother is Adriana. When Liliana begins working as a gardener at the Balvanera mansion, she endures Nikki's constant rudeness and mistreatment, as Nikki insists on emphasizing their social differences. However, their dynamic shifts when Liliana discovers that she is also a Balvanera, giving her the strength to compete with Nikki for the love of Francisco Guzmán, Nikki's personal bodyguard. Despite Nikki's initial attempts to make Guzmán's life miserable, she ultimately and unexpectedly falls madly in love with him. As a result of a series of misunderstandings, Nikki is forced into a loveless marriage with tennis player Roy Pavía while thinking that Guzmán loves Liliana. Roy accepted the marriage following the instructions of his mother since they see in Nikki the chance to escape bankruptcy. This marriage turned out to be a complete hell for both Nikki and Roy. Guzmán is forced to marry Liliana after a tragic event that left her in agony, and Nikki is deeply affected by this situation as when she meets Guzmán again after her separation from Roy, they both realize they still love each other.
Victoria, Arriaga, Nikki and Guzmán will have to overcome the obstacles of destiny as the only solution is to unite them together and achieve their true love.
Cast
Main
Erika Buenfil as Victoria Balvanera Gil de Brizz
Eduardo Yáñez as José Ángel Arriaga
Eiza González as Nikki Brizz Balvanera
Sebastián Rulli as Francisco Guzmán Trejo
Enrique Rocha as Aníbal Balvanera
Guillermo Capetillo as Nelsón Brizz
Marjorie de Sousa as Kendra Ferreti / Macária Chávez
Sherlyn as Liliana Arriaga Corona / Lucia Celorio Balvanera
Francisco Gattorno as Santino Roca "Salsero"
Mónika Sánchez as Cristina Balvanera Corona de Arriaga
Susana González as Beatriz Guzmán Trejo de Solís
Julio Camejo as Leonardo Solís
Raquel Morell as Tomasina Lagos
Silvia Manríquez as Paula Trejo
Michelle Rodríguez as Polita López
Ruben Branco as Jean Marie
Lilia Aragón as Odette Longoria
Archie Lafranco as Estefano Longoria
Arsenio Campos as Felipe Guzmán
Sergio Acosta as Espanto
Hugo Macías Macotela as Fortuno
Recurring and guest stars
Marcelo Córdoba as Vicente Celorio
Ana Bárbara as herself
Elsa Cárdenas as judge
Lolita Ayala as herself
Adrián Escalona as Guillermo "Guillo" Solís Guzmán
Bárbara Islas as Nabila
Luis Xavier as Milton Pavía
Paulina de Labra as Opalina
Toño Infante as Comandante
Patricia Conde as Profesora Astudillo
Diego de Erice as Vladimir
Patsy as Jocelyn Alcázar
Juan Verduzco as Doctor Montaño
Ricardo Barona as El Turco
Irina Areu as Elsa
Teo Tapia as Antonio del Conde
Renata Flores as Imperia Roca
Sabine Moussier as Bruna Cristo
Pedro Weber "Chatanuga" as Mezcalitos
Production
The complete cast was announced on June 22, 2012. Filming of the telenovela began on July 23, 2012, and concluded on April 30, 2013. It was the first telenovela to have a 3-hour series finale presentation with commercials.
Reception
Mexican broadcast
On September 3, 2012, Canal de las Estrellas started broadcasting Amores verdaderos weeknights at 9:30pm, replacing Abismo de pasión. The last episode was broadcast on May 12, 2013, with La tempestad replacing it the following day.
U.S. broadcast
Univision confirmed a prime-time broadcast of Amores verdaderos on October 10, 2012. On November 7, Univision started broadcasting Amores verdaderos weeknights at 9pm/8c, replacing Abismo de pasión averaged 4.3 million viewers. The last episode was broadcast on July 28, 2013 at 8pm/7c, with La tempestad replacing it the following day, averaged 5.3 million viewers.