Chow Yun Fat shares outlook on life and death: 'I'm not scared of getting old'

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat attends the Busan International Film Festival with his wife Jasmine Tan. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat recently admitted that he was reluctant to donate his HK$5.6bil (RM3.38bil) wealth to charity when he dies.

Speaking to reporters at the 20th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Chow said that he didn't want to donate all his wealth to charity as it was his "hard-earned money". However, he had a change of heart after realising that one cannot bring their wealth to the afterlife.

"We came into this world with nothing, and we will not be able to bring anything back with us when we die," he said.

On the topic of life, Chow also addressed the death hoax which went viral on Chinese social media in December 2017.

According to reports, news of the actor's apparent passing surfaced after a screenshot of a supposed news programme – which had a headline saying he had died in a Hong Kong hospital – made rounds on the Internet.

However, Chow's wife Jasmine Tan quickly debunked the news, adding that her husband was healthy and resting at home.

During the interview at BIFF, where he was named Asian Filmmaker of the Year, Chow said that he was unperturbed by such fake stories.

Now at 68, the God Of Gamblers star said that the most important thing for him is to live in the present and to not take the topic of life and death too seriously.

"When you reach a certain age, you need to get a hobby and stay healthy. I plan to run a half-marathon next November.

"Where there's life, there's also death. I don't care much about wrinkles and I'm not scared of getting old because that's life," he said.