Despite being one of Hong Kong’s richest actors, movie legend Chow Yun Fat, 69, is famously known for his frugal lifestyle.
He reportedly spends just HK$800 (S$141) a month and favours meals at roadside stalls.
But did you know that Fat Gor has an extravagant side too?
The star recently guested on Hong Kong host Carol Cheng’s YouTube show The Do Show to promote his new film Detective Chinatown 1900. He also shared about his love for cars, specifically vintage rides.
Carol revealed that when they were shooting 1979 TVB drama Man In The Net, Fat Gor bought a second-hand Rolls-Royce as his daily drive.
He was so excited about his ride that he shared photos of it with the film crew.
Curious, Carol asked what led him to shift from a luxurious lifestyle to living so simply now.
Fat Gor clarified that he didn’t buy luxury cars for extravagance but out of a fascination with engines.
“I wanted to understand how a V8 engine could power such a heavy car while still providing such a smooth ride. At the time, second-hand cars were very cheap, so after buying it, I opened the hood with a mechanic to study it together,” he explained.
As he spoke about engines, Fat Gor became animated and added: “I didn’t buy the car to show off — I just love engines and machines.”
He admitted that during his peak, he owned five or six vintage cars, mostly Mercedes Benz and BMW. His wedding car during his 1983 nuptials to ex, actress Candice Yu, was a rare Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn.
“But they spent more time being repaired than being driven, and I didn’t have time to take care of so many cars, so I ended up selling them all,” he said.
If you’re wondering, he drives an “environmentally friendly electric car” now.
During the show, Fat Gor also revealed how he chooses his roles these days.
“At my age, I can’t play a young idol anymore. Most of the time, I get offered father or uncle roles, but as long as the role allows me to showcase my skills, I don’t mind. Being an actor is about contributing to the film,” he said.
He does not limit himself to a certain number of films per year and says that there’s a misconception that he is hard to get or “too expensive”.
When asked if his fees are high, he replied: “No, it’s just difficult to find roles that interest me. I need something challenging before I’ll even look at a script.”
And he has no interest in producing his own films.
“I’d rather leave those tough jobs to directors and screenwriters,” he said. “I still have the desire to act.”