Tony Leung was tricked into filming intimate scenes with Leslie Cheung.

In a recent interview, Tony Leung shared insights into the influence of filmmakers like Stephen Chow and Wong Kar-wai on his career. In particular, the actor revealed how Wong Kar-wai "tricked" him into playing a gay character in the film "Happy Together," alongside Leslie Cheung.

Wong Kar-wai "tricked" me into playing a gay character.

Happy Together revolves around the love story of Le Dieu Huy (Tony Leung) and Ha Bao Vinh (Leslie Cheung). They frequently break up and get back together, despite often hurting each other. To rekindle their cooling relationship, Le Dieu Huy and Ha Bao Vinh decide to leave Hong Kong and travel to Argentina.

In a foreign land, the couple continued to clash and eventually went their separate ways. They then struggled to survive and overcome loneliness. Le Dieu Huy was forced to stay in Argentina to work because he didn't have enough money to return home. They were caught in a cycle of breakups and reunions, loving each other intensely but also not hesitating to emotionally torment each other.

Tony Leung was tricked into filming intimate scenes with Leslie Cheung - 1 — Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung.

Sharing his thoughts on the role, Tony Leung confessed his anxiety about playing a gay character: "I was worried about playing a gay character, and director Wong knew it. He gave me a fake script in which my father died in Buenos Aires, and I had to go there to retrieve the body. There, I would discover that my father was gay, and I had to find his lover. But when I arrived in Buenos Aires, director Wong revealed that I was the gay character."

Speaking further about the intimate scene with his co-star Leslie Cheung, the actor said: "We filmed the intimate scene on the very first day. Director Wong Kar-wai told me to change clothes as soon as I entered the set. Although it's hard to believe, I completed the scene. It took me three days to get over this experience. Wong Kar-wai also told me not to dwell on my feelings while kissing Cheung, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to complete the filming."

Tony Leung was tricked into filming intimate scenes with Leslie Cheung - Part 2 — The film helped Wong Kar-wai win the Best Director award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.

Wong Kar-wai's film is a reflection on the fragility of love and the helplessness in harmonizing two estranged souls. The film is considered one of the greatest Hong Kong films of all time, thanks to its subtlety in content, acting, and every frame. "Happy Together" earned Wong Kar-wai the Best Director award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.

Stephen Chow is trying to get people to act.

Before starting his acting career, Tony Leung shared that his first job was selling household appliances: "I was close friends with Stephen Chow at the time, and he often talked about acting and directing. He always pursued his dream of becoming a star, even when he was only 17 years old. I thought it was impossible, but he never gave up. Stephen Chow mentioned the TVB training school, and because I was so frustrated with selling refrigerators and air conditioners, I applied."

When sharing about a time when "a new lifestyle, emotional commitments, and fame hindered his prospects," Tony Leung said: "There was a time when I had no motivation to work. I felt like I had lost my identity. I wanted to give up acting and stay cocooned in my 'nest' all day rather than go out and have fun. But soon I realized I couldn't continue like that anymore."

Tony Leung was tricked into filming intimate scenes with Leslie Cheung - 3 — Stephen Chow was a close friend who persuaded Tony Leung to pursue an acting career.

In a 2000 interview, the Hong Kong actor stated that acting is a real challenge and each role presents its own difficulties. "When I start filming a movie, I spend a lot of time adjusting myself so I can fully immerse myself in the character I'm playing. It's not a simple task. It's not easy for an actor to immediately get into character for a film, and I'm no exception. There are many factors that affect our mood."

To prepare for his roles, Tony Leung shared: " First, I have to understand my role. I find out the habits of the character I'm playing and learn from them to become more familiar with the role. For example, if the character usually goes to bed late and wakes up late, I will do the same in real life. Subconsciously, I transform myself to fit this image. It's quite a painful process. During filming, I try not to contact my close friends and completely immerse myself in the film. The scenes aren't real, but my emotions are."

Tony Leung was tricked into filming intimate scenes with Leslie Cheung - 4 — Tony Leung was honored as Best Actor at the Asian Film Awards.

Recently, Tony Leung was honored as Best Actor at the Asian Film Awards. This title is just one of countless acting awards the actor has won throughout his decades in the Hong Kong film industry.

Regarding his future and the possibility of stepping back from the camera, Tony Leung stated that he has no plans to direct any films yet: "I'm not mature enough, and I don't know if I'm capable of it. I'm a quiet person, and off-screen I don't know how to express myself. I also don't know how to convey my own meaning."

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