Action star Donnie Yen disclosed during his appearance on ViuTV's "The Spirit of the Lion Rock Fred Ma" that he once rejected a HK$3 million movie role while having only HK$100 in his bank account, choosing to focus on his own production projects instead.
The actor-director shared his career struggles on the final episode of the interview series, recalling how he turned down the lucrative offer to avoid distraction from his own work despite desperately needing funds to pay crew members during a financial crisis.
Yen described his journey from training at his mother's martial arts school to being discovered by director Yuen Woo-ping. After establishing his own company, he faced severe financial challenges that forced him to borrow money, though he resolved the situation within weeks.
"You must have passion for what you do. Without love, no amount of money can make you achieve excellence," Yen emphasized during the program.
The Hong Kong star also expressed admiration for local athletes' international achievements and encouraged young people to maintain perseverance and hard work despite changing times.
