Chen Shucheng & Wife Huang Peiru Shot Local TV’s First Kissing Scene In 1984

These days, Mediacorp veteran actor Chen Shucheng, 74, is known for his ‘grandpa roles’ in shows such as Old Is Gold (2019), and The Heartland Hero (2021).

Back in the day though, Shucheng da ge was one of local TV's most popular leading men and even has the honour of being the first actor to shoot a kissing scene in a local drama. 

Shucheng, along with other veteran stars, appeared on the latest episode of documentary Singapore Screens: A Cinematic Journey.

They recalled their experiences working on some of our most iconic dramas and Shucheng got candid about that groundbreaking scene which he shot with former actress and his eventual wife Huang Peiru in the 1984's The Awakening.

Needless to say, the scene was the talk of the town, even making the headlines on both English and Mandarin newspapers.

Speaking to 8world in an interview, Shucheng said that kissing scenes back then were nothing like the passionate make-out sessions we’re used to seeing on TV now.

Instead, he described the kiss as a gentle peck, like “a dragonfly touching the surface of water”. Even so, the actor was nervous and had butterflies in his stomach.

At that time, Shucheng was 34 and Peiru, 23, and they had yet to become a couple.

They rehearsed the scene twice, and did it in just one take when the cameras started rolling.

Shucheng chuckled: “I didn’t ask Peiru [how she felt], because she was very reserved and shy.”

Shucheng also revealed that he didn’t pursue Peiru after their on-screen kiss because he initially only saw her as a younger sister.

It was only when they got the chance to play a married couple did they develop feelings for each other.

“I was attracted to her poise and acting skills. She was very young but already very good at acting, and it really moved me. When I acted with her, she would motivate me to perform better,” he said.

Shucheng also said he didn’t have an easy time chasing Peiru. “It was difficult! I wasn't a good guy, and I had an unrestrained temperament. I was known as the ‘Angry Teochew Man’. I used to get angered easily by things that didn’t sit well with me.”

He added that Peiru had other suitors at that time but he was thick-skinned enough to go after her as well.

According to Shucheng, there were many actors who dated in secret before going public when they were about to get married. He and Peiru were like that too and they went out for 10 years before walking down the aisle. 

Photos: Chen Shucheng, Mediacorp, 8world, mewatch

Watch Shucheng talking about his memories from The Awakening on Singapore Screens: A Cinematic Journey on mewatch, or catch it below.