When Hong Kong actor Kevin Chu came to Malaysia in January to promote the historical sci-fi film Back To The Past, he had no idea the trip would lead to his next acting role.
After watching his performance in the film, a producer and director approached him about starring in the Astro drama Wolong: The Mastermind.
A few months later, Chu was back in Malaysia – this time to film the 13-episode drama at various locations across the Klang Valley.
The experience gave the 37-year-old the opportunity to work in an unfamiliar environment.
“Hong Kong productions are usually more fast-paced and intense, so there’s less laughter in a sense,” Chu told StarLifestyle in an exclusive interview.
“I feel like in Malaysia, people appreciate a certain type of work-life balance. They are more accepting, so I really had a good time here.”
The food, however, took some getting used to.
“Malaysian food has a lot of spice, and my spice tolerance isn’t exactly the best. It took quite some time to get used to it, but I think I’ve gotten a lot better at eating spicy food now,” he said, smiling.
A role unlike any other
In Wolong: The Mastermind, Chu plays Yong Ming, a debt- ridden young man whose life is turned upside down when his body becomes inhabited by the soul of Zhuge Liang, a strategist from ancient China’s Three Kingdoms period (220-280).
Armed with Zhuge Liang’s knowledge of military strategy and tactics, Yong Ming finds himself navigating the cutthroat world of power-hungry tycoons and corporate warfare in modern-day Malaysia.
It was the unusual premise that first drew Chu to the project.
“You have the soul of this really famous military advisor who time travels to modern-day Malaysia and suddenly finds himself in a corporate world.
“I think it’s interesting to watch the contrast between old and modern-day conflicts,” he said.
The role also pushed Chu outside his comfort zone, particularly because much of the dialogue is in Mandarin – a language he can converse in but had never previously used so extensively for a role.
After filming each day, Chu would spend hours practising with his colleagues, working on his pronunciation and intonation.
Ironically, what initially felt like a weakness eventually became an advantage.
“My character is someone from thousands of years ago, so to a certain extent, the way he speaks in the modern world gave me an advantage because I can be a little awkward in my performance.
“It’s one of the key quirks of my character,” he said.
Chu added that playing a historical character in this production was a “dream come true”.
“It’s because this time, I didn’t have to spend long hours in heavy costumes or endure the sun and rain,” he joked.
The production also brought him closer to several Malaysian actors, including Juztin Lan, Tong Bing Yu, Karena Teo and Ribbon Ooi.
At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, his co-stars described him as the “light of the group”, with Ooi joking that he was “super mischievous” and always teased her on set.
Chu simply laughed off the description, saying: “I just like the people around me to be happy!”
From athlete to actor
Acting was never part of Chu’s original career plan.
He began swimming competitively at eight and, by 15, was representing Hong Kong at international competitions.
He competed at the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games and studied sports science at university, initially hoping to build a career in the field.
But after missing out on selection for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and failing to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, Chu began questioning whether sports was still the path he wanted.
“I don’t know what hit me, but one day, I suddenly realised that I didn’t want to do sports for the rest of my life,” he told StarLifestyle.
His sporting activities eventually opened an unexpected door into the entertainment industry.
Since he used to appear on television, he caught the attention of modelling agencies.
Although Chu’s athletic background made him a natural fit for the role, acting proved to be an entirely different challenge.
“I was so confident about the role at first, but acting was a whole different story... It’s actually really funny looking back now,” he said.
What began as an unexpected opportunity gradually blossomed into a stable career.
In 2016, Chu signed with Hong Kong filmmaker Louis Koo’s talent agency One Cool Group and went on to appear in productions including Margaret & David: Beginning, the 2016 adaptation of Infernal Affairs and Modern Dynasty.
His profile grew further with Back To The Past, which grossed more than US$51mil (RM205.4mil) worldwide.
He also appeared in Cold War 1994 in May, the third instalment of the popular Cold War movie franchise, alongside Chow Yun Fat, Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka Fai.
Looking back, Chu is grateful that he stayed the course despite moments of uncertainty.
“There were times when I thought I wasn’t cut out for the industry, but the support from my friends and parents helped me find my direction again,” he said.
Lessons beyond the spotlight
Sharing more about his move from sports to acting, Chu doesn’t see it as a clean break from his past but the result of a series of unexpected encounters and opportunities.
His father, who has worked in film distribution for years, was one of his earliest connections to showbiz.
“I guess fate got me here,” he said.
Beyond opening the door to the film world, his father also taught him lessons that Chu continues to carry into his career.
The actor said he admired his father’s patience, particularly the way he balanced work and family without easily losing his temper.
“I really can’t recall a time where he ever lost his temper,” he said.
Now, the film industry has given the pair another point of connection.
Chu would often share his filming experiences, and his father would provide feedback and advice.
“He would always remind me to be respectful, humble and nice to people,” Chu said.
Those values have shaped how Chu approaches both his career and personal life.
Rather than focusing solely on how quickly he can advance, he wants to become a better person along the way.
Part of that means maintaining a positive outlook.
“My friends sometimes think I’m too naive or lack experience because of how overly optimistic I am, but I believe everyone is different.
“You don’t necessarily have to go through a huge hurdle to gain experience,” he said.
Chu also hopes to become more loving towards the people around him.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s towards my friends, parents or other half. I believe love is the key to all things, especially during current times where many conflicts are happening,” he said.
Speaking of love, Chu revealed that he is currently getting to know someone, but stressed that they are still in the early stages.
He believes a relationship requires effort from both sides.
“You need to know what you want and what the other person wants too,” he said.
For now, however, his career remains his priority.
After years of pursuing success in the pool before finding a new path in front of the camera, Chu has a clear idea of what he hopes his acting career will ultimately represent.
“Since I used to represent Hong Kong as a swimmer, I hope I could also represent Hong Kong as a substantial actor,” he concluded.
New episodes of Wolong: The Mastermind premiere Sundays at 9.30pm on Astro Go, On Demand, Sooka and Astro AEC (Ch 306).
