Although he's already lost over 9kg, Xiaoming shared that he’s aiming to lose at least another four kilos as his character requires him to be really gaunt. P/S: He plays a taxi driver who gets caught up in a series of mysterious events after he meeting a drunkard on the night shift.

The movie's director Dong Yue shared in a recent interview that all the dieting has taken a toll on Xiaoming’s health, and he recalled seeing the actor turning pale while sprawled on top of the prop cart during filming. “He only requested that I let him rest of a couple of minutes [even though it was evident that he was worn out],” Dong Yue added. 

Xiaoming has since clarified that the incident was “nothing to worry about”.

When asked by reporters, Xiaoming simply that he developed heart problems because he was too eager to lose weight. “I had used the fasting method and maybe it was too fast and I didn’t eat, and because of that my body lacked nutrients like salt and sugar, and became too weak. It didn’t help that I filmed over night for a few days in a row, and that affected my heart.”

Netizens expressed their concern for Xiaoming as they wondered if he was risking too much for the sake of the movie. “He’s 43, which isn’t that young any more. If he keeps ill-treating his body like that, he might just collapse one day,” one netizen wrote.

Another pointed out that Godfrey Gao, who seemed to be in the pink of health, also passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest while filming a game show. The netizen added, “Fame, recognition, all of that isn’t important if you think of the bigger picture. Nothing is worth more than good health and being alive.”

Photos: PBE Media

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