Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun Fat once had an amusing encounter with a taxi driver who failed to recognise him, China Press reported.
In an episode of the Chinese talk show Voice, the 69-year-old said the incident took place while he was in Beijing filming a movie.
Running late for the set, Chow decided to take a taxi.
However, the driver insisted that he would only accept passengers travelling in the same direction as his route and dismissed the actor by claiming to be off duty.
Pressed for time, the God Of Gamblers star bluntly said, “I am Chow Yun Fat,” hoping the revelation would prompt the driver to make an exception.
Unfazed, the taxi driver responded, “Who’s Chow Yun Fat? I don’t know him.”
After much persuasion, Chow eventually managed to get a ride.
Rather than taking offence, he found the whole ordeal to be very amusing.
“Maybe I’m not very famous after all,” the actor joked of the humorous encounter.
Since making his debut in 1973, Chow has cemented himself as one of Hong Kong’s richest actors, with a reported net worth of US$200mil (RM890.6mil), according to Celebrity Net Worth.
In 2023, he became the second Hong Kong actor, after Tony Leung Chiu Wai, to be named Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the 28th Busan International Film Awards.
Chow’s career is also marked by numerous accolades, including three Best Actor laurels at the Hong Kong Film Awards and two Best Actor prizes at the Golden Horse Awards.
Despite his accomplishments, Chow has always remained humble and would happily fulfil requests for photos and autographs during his regular jogs.
His down-to-earth nature and willingness to connect with fans have made him even more beloved.
When asked why he’s so open to accepting fans’ requests, he simply replied: “Many people have never met me, yet they have supported me for over 30 years. Now they only want to see me for three minutes, shouldn’t I agree?”
