Hong Kong singer cum actor Aaron Kwok was in Malaysia last month for his concert. Photos: Handout
“Malaysian fans have supported me every step of the way throughout the most memorable years of my life, and I am hoping to make more beautiful moments.”
That was what Hong Kong superstar Aaron Kwok said about his return to Malaysia after an absence of nearly four years.
Kwok’s last visit to the country was in November 2019, where he attended a brand event in Penang.
Back then, the 57-year-old expressed his profound love for the delicious cuisines in the state and promised to take his two daughters there one day.
Last month, the esteemed artiste brought his Aaron Kwok Amazing Kode World Tour to the Arena Of Stars in Resorts World Genting, where he entertained fans with some of his catchiest hits for three nights.
This was the singer’s first time performing in Malaysia since 2015.
The Heavenly King is known for his vocal prowess and energetic stage presence.
Kwok started his music career in 1990 with the Mandopop album Loving You Never Stop and quickly rose to fame with his slew of Cantopop releases.
He later joined the ranks of Hong Kong’s leading singers such as Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai and Andy Lau, and together all four became known as the Four Heavenly Kings Of Cantopop.
Kwok’s dance style is reported to be heavily influenced by the “King Of Pop” Michael Jackson.
As one of the most prominent soloists in Asia, it was no surprise that tickets to Kwok’s Genting Highlands gigs were snapped up within hours.
Two days before his concert, the singer held a press conference in Kuala Lumpur where he talked about his relationship with Malaysia, how he made use of his time during the lockdown, his love for acting and his upcoming projects.
Kwok expressed excitement at performing in Malaysia after eight years. Photo: Ong Soon Hin/The Star
Deeply touched by the unconditional support he received from fans here, the singer said: “I am very happy and excited to stage a concert in Malaysia after eight years.
“Each show of support is a source of inspiration and motivation for my efforts and creations. I will treasure (the fans) in my heart and strive to do even better on stage as a return to all their support.”
Need for speed
Kwok described his relationship with Malaysia as a close one.
One particular memory he cherishes most from his time here was when he first started car racing three decades ago.
“I learned how to race in Malaysia, and that was around 30 years ago. Back then, I met a friend who was just as enthusiastic about racing as I was, and we would often meet up to race.
“Little did I know, he would text me 30 years later saying he would meet me at my Genting Highlands concert. This is true friendship,” he said with a smile.
Outside his artistic ventures, Kwok is well-known for his love for fast cars and motorsport.
Kwok has loved cars and motorsport since young. Photo: Aaron Kwok/WeiboAccording to Hong Kong’s Prestige magazine, the talented artiste took part in his first car race two decades ago, where he drove in a Formula Renault event on the Monza circuit in Italy.
He has since participated in multiple racing competitions around the world and even established his own racing team, FS Sports, in 2017.
Kwok also has an extravagant car collection which includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens and a Pagani Zonda 760 “King”, which can cost up to US$2mil (RM9.3mil), according to South China Morning Post.
During the press conference, the Para Para Sakura hitmaker said that most of the extreme sports he enjoys are available in Malaysia.
“The next time I return, other than spending time with my family, I hope to visit Sepang and race there again,” he added.
Explosive action
Aside from his achievements on stage, Kwok has made a name for himself on the big screen too.
His acting career is marked by a string of award-winning performances, including Divergence (2005) and After This Our Exile (2006), for which he scored the Best Actor prize at the 42nd and 43rd Golden Horse Awards, respectively.
On June 21, Kwok was presented with the Award For Excellent Achievement In Film from the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) for his outstanding contributions to the film industry.
“Every acting award I receive is another step in my (acting career). All these awards give me confidence to continue making films and acting,” he said.
Known for his outstanding performances in films, Kwok has refused to settle for less when filming action sequences.
His next movie is the action flick, The White Storm 3.
The film revolves around undercover cop Cheung Kin Hung (Kwok) who infiltrates a drug cartel led by notorious Thai drug lord Kang Su Cha (Sean Lau).
Following the trail of information left by Cheung, superintendent Au Chi Yuen (Louis Koo) leads the Narcotics Bureau to bust the syndicate.
Both Cheung and Kang hide away in a village but things take a turn when Dai Kam Wing (Lo Ka Leung) – a militia leader helping Kang to rebuild his narcotics empire – receives a tip-off about Cheung’s undercover identity.
Kwok stars as undercover agent Cheung Kin Hung in the upcoming movie, 'The White Storm 3'.
The film is filled with tons of action. Unfortunately, it has been reported that four crew members from the stunt team met with accidents within a span of nine days of filming.
The first accident occurred during the filming of a high-speed chase where a car stunt coordinator was crushed by a prop car.
The second incident happened when the scaffolding for a plane crash scene collapsed, leading to three stuntmen getting pinned under the steel.
When asked by local media if he would reduce filming dangerous scenes for the sake of his family, Kwok answered “no”.
According to him, it is his duty as an actor to have a “good work ethic” and deliver the best performance possible.
“There won’t be any special changes. I strongly believe that it is necessary for professional actors to have a (good) work ethic,” he said.
Kwok added that during the filming of The White Storm 3, he had to film a scene which involved an explosion.
The actor said that he has always been hesitant to shoot scenes involving fire as he has seen many accidents happening from it.
Despite his fear of fire, Kwok has refused to settle for less when filming action sequences.
“Shooting this scene was an unforgettable experience. Even though I was afraid, I still (filmed) my part. Later on, the director wanted the scene to have more of a shock factor, so I had to re-take it.
“The bottom line is that I will (continue doing these types of scenes) in the future, and I will not change my attitude towards my work,” the consummate star said.
Staying productive
A busy man who regularly travels for work, life for Kwok changed after the pandemic which confined many people in their homes.
Unable to hold any concerts for almost three years, the Cantopop singer was able to pick up some new hobbies while cooped up at home.
“I developed an interest in calligraphy and drawing. As someone who’s always on-the-go, I felt (a sense of) peace from these new hobbies I picked up.
“I find dancing to be a more ‘in the moment’ kind of thing... like it goes away in the blink of an eye. But calligraphy and drawing preserves these memories, and you can always come back to admire it anytime you want,” he said of his new interest.
Aside from picking up new hobbies, Kwok was able to spend more time with his wife, former model Moka Fang, and two daughters, Chantelle and Charlotte, at home too.
He also made sure to keep himself fit by working out daily.
“I work out, do cardio and run every day to keep myself fit. In fact, (exercising) has long been a part of my life.
“Whether I am a singer or actor, I always make sure to exercise daily as it provides me with the stamina I need to sing and shoot action movies,” he added.
Kwok has been keeping himself busy since the pandemic. He has shot five films that are set for release in the coming months.
Kwok also announced his plans to release a few mini albums.
“At the moment, I am in the process of getting an American choreographer and an international dance crew, and we will be training together soon.
“Lately, I have been thinking about how I can present my songs in a way that’s more current. So I thought of releasing a few EPs which fans can stream online.
“I may debut the new songs in my upcoming concerts in Hong Kong, too, so stay tuned,” Kwok teased.
The White Storm 3 premieres at cinemas nationwide on July 20.
