Tony Leung to star in a new movie with alleged paramour Zhou Xun

8days reported that the leading lady in Tony Leung's upcoming new film 'Nameless' is to be Chinese actress Zhou Xun.

Why has this caused quite the stir amongst Chinese netizens?

Zhou Xun is a Chinese actress known to be one of the Four Dan Actresses of China.

The two have been rumored to be in an affair since their collaboration in 2012's 'The Silent War.'

Tony Leung had allegedly intended to spend his 51st birthday with Zhou Xun, but his plans were thwarted when his legal wife, Hong Kong actress Carina Lau, flew back to Hong Kong to spend time with him on his special day, according to 8days.

Read the story of Tony Leung and Carina Lau's relationship, from beginning to end!

(Image: Mei Ah Entertainment)

Carina Lau and Tony Leung are not only A-list tier actors in Hong Kong but were also once known as the hottest power couple (despite the rumors of infidelity) in Chinese and Hong Kong entertainment. Their marriage has lasted for over two decades now, and their relationship for 32 years. What keeps them going strong, and how did their relationship start?

Carina Lau is a Hong Kong actress known for being the classic ‘girl-next-door’ in Hong Kong cinema during the 1980s.

Starting out as an actress with TVB in 1983, Carina Lau made her way up from TV, into film. Her role in ‘Looking Back in Anger’ in 1989 was such a huge hit that Carina Lau decided to switch to mainly acting in film thereafter!

(Image: In-Gear Films)

Some of Carina Lau’s most iconic roles of all time include her work in ‘Her Beautiful Life Lies’, ‘Days of Being Wild’, ‘He's a Woman, She's a Man’, The second and third ‘Infernal Affairs’, and ‘Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame’.

(Image: Media Asia Films)

Currently, Carina Lau is still active in the industry as an actress and has ‘Dynasty Warriors’ as her latest work in 2021. She plays ‘Master of the Sword Forge Castle’ in the film alongside other A-list actors like Louis Koo.

(Image: Netflix)

Tony Leung Chiu-wai is a Hong Kong actor who is also known for being one of Hong Kong’s most internationally recognised actors. His fame has even placed him on CNN’s list of "Asia's 25 Greatest Actors of All Time"!

Did you know that Tony Leung’s start to acting began through an encounter with Stephen Chow? His eventual friendship with Stephen Chow would then go on to inspire Tony Leung to sign up for acting lessons with TVB, and was then a regular actor for the company after.

(Image: Sil-Metropole Organisation Columbia, TriStar Films)

Similar to now-wife Carina Lau, Tony Leung shifted from acting on the small screen to the big screens after 8 years of working with TVB. Tony Leung left television for film in 1989 and has never been back since.

(Image: Focus Features)

Some of Tony Leung’s most iconic roles include ‘People’s Hero’, ‘Hard Boiled’, ‘A City of Sadness’, ‘Happy Together’, ‘In The Mood for Love’, ‘Lust, Caution’, and ‘Hero’.

(Image: Media Asia Films)

Despite being internationally famous and a big name not only in Hong Kong but across the world for decades, Tony Leung only accepted his first Hollywood role in 2019 by playing The Mandarin in the Marvel film ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ alongside Simu Liu! The movie premiered in September 2021.

(Image: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

The two first met while on set together in 1984 when working on ‘The Replica’. The two eventually grew closer over the years with also working together on many other films such as ‘Duke of Mount Deer’, ‘Police Cadet’, and ‘Days of Being Wild’ and dated for 19 years before marrying in 2008!

Before Angelababy and Huang Xiaoming’s ‘Crazy Rich’ wedding in 2015, Carina Lau and Tony Leung’s wedding was the most talked-about iconic wedding in C-Entertainment history.

The pair’s wedding took place in Bhutan and was a very private and heavily guarded affair. From China.org.cn, it was held at the Uma Paro Hotel and guards were keeping the media at bay. Many distinguished guests attended the wedding, including Bhutanese royalty, director Stanley Kwan, Faye Wong, and her then-husband Li Yapeng. Film auteur and director Wong Kar-wai was also involved in helping plan the wedding!

Did you know that Tony Leung did not know anything about his own wedding? According to Her World, Carina Lau kept it a secret from her guests and from Tony Leung under the guise of bringing everyone on a holiday trip!

According to Asia One, Bhutan was selected as the wedding destination after Faye Wong and Li Yapeng brought the couple to India to visit the Karmapa Lama and resolve a relationship crisis they allegedly had. The Karmapa Lama then suggested Bhutan as the wedding venue to Carina and Tony, and the rest was history.

See also: the glamorous King and Queen of Bhutan

Their long relationship has not been free from the occasional rumour. Jayne Stars reports that several media have suggested other than the rumour with Zhou Xun, there was a love triangle plaguing the relationship. It allegedly includes Tony Leung’s long-time on-screen collaborator, Maggie Cheung. Carina Lau allegedly refused to attend events where Maggie Cheung was present.

However, 10 years after the love triangle accusations broke out, Carina Lau and Maggie Cheung finally squashed the rumours by posting a photo together and showcase their amicable relationship. Jayne Stars cites sharp-eyed netizens who noticed from Carina Lau’s sunglasses that it was Tony Leung who took the picture!

(Image: Weibo)

With a relationship that has lasted 32 years and counting despite the occasional hardship, Carina Lau and Tony Leung have become the envy of many. According to 8days Carina Lau once revealed the secret to their long-lasting relationship: mutual tolerance.