Chinese woman pays to be lead in drama, reportedly asked for over 60 kissing scenes with male lead

A Woman's Unusual Demands for a Short-Form Drama

A Chinese woman has gained attention online for paying to be the lead actress of a short-form drama and reportedly requesting for more than 60 kissing scenes. The drama has more than 50 episodes. According to Lianhe Zaobao, the woman claimed to be a rich investor who spent a lot of money requesting that she tailor-make a short-form drama. She then casted herself as the female lead 'princess' of the drama and personally selected her male lead actor. The production team alleged that since the female lead requested more than 60 kissing scenes in the drama with over 50 episodes, the proportion of intimate scenes became 'quite exaggerated'.

Inappropriate Intimate Behaviour

The male lead actor Zhong Yufei posted a video saying his co-star allegedly engaged in inappropriate intimate behaviour during filming. He claimed that he was forced to endure his discomfort on set, where he had reportedly been cast as a 'fallen prince'. The production team alleged that the female lead frequently added kissing scenes, which resulted in problems with the plot. Some viewers were mistaken that the co-stars had a close relationship in real life.

Consequences of the Incident

After the incident was brought to light, the director reportedly clarified in a video that she was only the production company for this customised short drama. She was not the wealthy woman she had mistakenly been portrayed to be. The director added that though she had initially advised reducing the proportion of kissing scenes, the female lead had allegedly insisted on her own opinion. The production team stated that in the future, they would protect actors' rights more clearly and clarify responsibilities when signing contracts.