Romeo Tan Worried About Not Winning His Final Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Award This Year 'Cos Of His Villain Role In Emerald Hill

Getting hated on after playing a villain is basically receiving a stamp of approval for your performance from the audience.

For Romeo Tan, 40, the resentment people have towards his role as Zhang Jin Quan, the devious and murderous youngest son of the Zhang family in Mediacorp's Emerald Hill has gotten him all worried. 

Just how evil is Jin Quan? Well, he shot his older brother (sob, Xiu Jie Kai, sob) in the chest after the latter found out that Jin Quan had masterminded the kidnap of his daughter, among other nefarious deeds.

When speaking to Chinese media zaobao.sg, Romeo said that he was already mentally prepared for criticism when he took on the role. 

"Even my family and friends would tell me: 'I feel like smacking you!' when we meet. I'm very happy to have achieved such an effect," shared the star. 

The Star Search 2010 third runner-up said this is the first time in his 15-year career that he felt that the whole of Singapore is tuning into the same drama. 

Even the economic beehoon stall owner would ask him about the plot when serving him at the hawker center. 

"When a show doesn't receive much recognition, [I] would feel that the role isn't seen by the audience. I'll take this experience as a motivation. Hopefully in the future, for whatever roles I play, I will do a good job so that people will remember and talk about them," he said.  

That said, Romeo has one concern about how revolting Jin Quan is.

"I hope that people won't stop voting for me at the upcoming Star Awards just because I played a baddie," he quipped.

Romeo has already won nine Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes trophies and is just one shy of becoming an All-Time Favourite Artiste.

"An actor's popularity is decided by the roles he play. [I'm] indeed worried, after all this final trophy is very important to me and my fans," he added.