When Zhu Houren’s name was announced midway through the Star Awards’ presentation of the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes, there was an audible gasp from the audience. Despite being a household name who has been nominated 15 times for that award, Houren has never won it.

But last night (April 14) at the 25th Star Awards, it was finally his night, along with fellow veteran actors Chen Shucheng and Zheng Geping, who all made it into the Top 10 list. “This must be the Pioneer Generation year,” said a flabbergasted Houren in his short and sweet acceptance speech. “I’m already 64 this year. How many more awards can I get? Next year, I will let my son take over for me.”

And to think that momentous win came just when Houren had given up all hopes of holding a Top 10 trophy. Speaking to 8days.sg at the Star Awards 2019 afterparty, the elated actor is all pumped up with the adrenaline of winning.

8 DAYS: Were you very surprised when you heard your name announced for the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes category?
ZHU HOUREN: I didn’t harbour any hopes of getting into the Top 10, so I didn’t ask people to vote for me on my social media platforms. All along, I have never been part of the Top 10, so I just focused on my acting. This kind of award… is a game for the young people, so I always tell my family and friends not to vote for me. I really want to find out who called and voted for me (laughs). In the future, if I bump into anyone who tells me they had voted for me, I’d like to thank them in person.

Did your actor son, Joel Choo, vote at least once for you?
My son didn’t vote for me. Not at all. I told him not to. This game has ‘rules’ and I feel like by winning tonight, I ‘broke’ a rule (laughs). Usually when an artiste gets into the Top 10, he should be greeted with screams and cheers, not a touching scene where the older generation is honoured. Maybe times have changed, and people appreciate artistes differently now. We’ll see next year.

You left your seat while they were announcing the Top 10 winners.
I went to the washroom during that segment, and [the producers] kept hurrying me to go back to my seat. I was thinking, “Are they ushering me back so quickly to get an award? Is it really a night of celebration for us seniors? Are they for real?” [Chen] Xiuhuan was sitting beside me, and [Hong] Huifang, and Lina [Ng], and they all got awards. So when I walked past Shucheng, he turned and said: “Tonight, anything can happen.” And his prediction came true (guffaws).

In your speech, you mentioned that you want your son to continue your Star Awards legacy.
I’m applying positive pressure on him (laughs). It’s my way of encouraging him. He just started out in showbiz, but he doesn’t have to listen to me about everything. He can have his own way of thinking and doing things. I just remind him about not making the same mistakes as I did in my youth, like going to certain places you shouldn’t be going, and mixing with people you shouldn’t be mixing with. I just tell him to try his best and do his work properly.

Recently I noticed that he has been doing a lot of prep work for his roles. He’s filming a police-themed drama where he has to carry a very heavy gun, and he asked me to drive him to a sporting goods shop so he could buy a dumbbell and practise carrying it like a gun. It was something I didn’t think of doing as a young actor, but I’m heartened that he has at least done basic preparation for his roles (laughs).

Photos: Alvin Teo, Mark Lee, Willie Yeo, Chee Yan, Wilson Pang, Lee Lay Na