Why Zheng Geping is more than a hunkle

Remember when Mediacorp was known as SBC or Singapore Broadcasting Corporation? That was when Zheng Geping first dipped his toes into showbusiness after participating in the 7th Professional Drama Performers' Training Course in 1987. He then went on to star in nine movies and 125 drama series and telemovies, including classic ones such as Tofu Street (1996) and Like Father, Like Daughter (2007).

While we know him as an actor, Zheng Geping's life could have been very different if he didn't enrol in the SBC actor course. Prior to that, he had a short stint at a French restaurant in a hotel and later did two and a half years as a police officer. On signing on the dotted line, Zheng Geping said "I thought I’d try it out for two years, and then leave. I don’t know how I got tricked into staying 36 years."

And throughout his 36-year career, Zheng Geping has gone on to be recognised for his popularity with 10 Top 10 Most Popular Artistes wins at Star Awards before getting the All-Time Favourite Artiste trophy in 2022.

His acting skills have also been equally recognised. Under Zheng Geping's belt are multiple Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations as well as a Best Actor win in 2007 for Like Father, Like Daughter.

He loves production work

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Not just a one-trick pony, Zheng Geping has also branched out into other creative endeavours behind the cameras. He wrote and directed the 2012 short film Unconditional Love (above) and was the Executive Producer for multiple productions such as How Are You? (2019), Soul Detective (2022) and local action film Deleted (2022).

Zheng Geping revealed in 2018 that he was an understudy in the Production Unit back in 1998 but his then-boss wanted him to remain an actor. It was until 2011 that he was given a chance to produce his first show, Unconditional Love.

In the above Instagram post published in January 2023, Zheng Geping made it public that he was parting ways with Mediacorp after 36 years. He had tendered his resignation in July 2022 and had kept his family in the dark about the "very painful" decision. Zheng Geping cited that he wanted to have "space to empty my mind, think and refocus" and fundamentally find himself once again.

“At a certain stage in life, you start to feel – do you stay the same, or take action when it’s not too late and you want to achieve something you haven’t yet? I want to do something different, something that establishes me, and have my own space."

"If I keep going on, I fear becoming lost. I think many of my colleagues understand this feeling. As you get older, you give yourself excuses: 'I’ll do it next year.’ But, eventually, you’ll be too old and won’t have the stamina."

Speaking of Zheng Geping's family, did you know that every member is an actor? His wife is Hong Huifang with whom he has two children with - Tay Ying and Calvert Tay.

Hong Huifang recently found new career heights after starring in a Singaporean-South Korean drama film Ajoomma and scored a Best Leading Actress nomination at the 59th Golden Horse Awards in 2022. She is the first Singaporean actress to be nominated for the prestigious award.

With her nominations and newfound fame, Zheng Geping couldn't be happier for his wife. "I was really moved to know that she was shortlisted. She has been working very hard for so many years in the industry. No matter what role, she tries her best to play it."

"I’ve always wanted her to have a chance to go on stage to receive an award. It’s my turn to support her and I hope Singaporeans will clap for her."

Now married for over three decades, Hong Huifang shared that her relationship with Zheng Geping wasn't looked upon favourably at the start, with friends telling her, "Let's just see when you all will get divorced."

The two had met in the late 1980s. Then, Hong Huifang was enjoying considerable success after Samsui Woman (1986) while Zheng Geping was a newbie. As a result of the naysayers, the two had to date in secret, with Zheng Geping eventually changing her first impression of him (she thought he was "sloppy and disorganised."

"He's not a panic stock, but a blue chip stock. Very early on, my intuition told me that one day, he’ll definitely achieve great things."

Remember earlier when we said that Zheng Geping's family are all actors? In an episode of #JustSwipeLah where the star were guest stars, Zheng Geping shared that he didn't want his son Calvert Tay to "follow in my field of work".

He went on to clarify, "[It’s ‘cos] he can compose music and he can sing, these are his innate talents that I lack. And he’s good in finance too, he’s been studying finance all along. [What I said earlier is] just a [piece of ] advice, not a must."

In case you didn't know that term, that's a hunky uncle. Zheng Geping's shredded body puts many of us at shame and he could even compete alongside people half his age. His physique is a result of his hard work and discipline, which he details in the book Star Fitness.

Zheng Geping shared that he got into bodybuilding in 2009 after needing to transform his body for a role in Kampong Ties where he was to have a body like Bruce Lee's.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Zheng Geping also owns a gym, Star Fitness, and founded the Celebrities Sports Club.

In fact, Zheng Geping smoked for over twenty years and could smoke up to "40 cigarettes a day" at his peak. "I picked up smoking during NS. I was with the police force then, and when I started working, I started smoking more. Cigarettes were a lot cheaper back then, they were only S$2.50 [a pack]. [I smoked] when I was bored, stressed, or happy, basically whenever I felt all sorts of emotions. When you're young, you think that you're fit, but as you grow older, when you smoke too much, you'll feel lethargic and breathless."

Zheng Geping later tried to quit smoking four times but failed repeatedly. He also stopped smoking at home after Hong Huifang got pregnant with their first child Tay Ying. Eventually, with the help of exercise and the feeling of his body deteriorating, he managed to quit smoking for good in 2009.