LayarHijau– Chinese actor Chen Xingxu, also known as Oliver Chen, recently pulled back the curtain on the demanding production of his latest drama, Love on the Turquoise Land. The star detailed the extreme physical sacrifices and numerous on-set ‘firsts’ required for his role as the protagonist, Yan Tuo.
In the interview with Sohu Entertainment News, Chen Xingxu spoke candidly about the rigorous physical preparation. To credibly portray his character during the imprisonment scenes, he had to achieve an extremely low body fat percentage in a very short time. He jokingly added that had he been given more time, he would have tried to push his physique even further.
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Punch-for-Punch Reality and Real Injuries
The action sequences in the drama demanded serious commitment. Chen Xingxu emphasized his goal of delivering realistic, high-contact fight scenes. Since his character, Yan Tuo, is not a martial arts expert, the actor avoided wire work and opted instead for intense hand-to-hand combat to reflect a fight for survival.
Chen Xingxu revealed that his fists became visibly bruised and swollen during the filming of these demanding scenes. He stressed that the pain was real, underscoring his dedication to making every hit look authentic and visceral for the audience.
Surprising Set of ‘Firsts’
The actor noted that Love on the Turquoise Land introduced several surprising ‘firsts’ to his career portfolio. He clarified that while he had filmed water scenes before, this was his inaugural experience wearing scuba gear to act underwater.
Furthermore, he lightheartedly mentioned that this drama required him to take off the most clothes in front of the camera to date. Another unique experience was having to wear a fake beard in a modern-day setting.
Character Analysis: Finding Redemption in the Most Suffering Hero
Chen Xingxu acknowledged the psychological challenge of portraying Yan Tuo, who he labeled the “Bitter Melon Rich Second Generation”—known as the most suffering male lead penned by author Wei Yu. “The character, whether in the novel or the adaptation, has many regrets or missing pieces,” he explained, adding that he worked hard to flesh out Yan Tuo’s psychological journey during filming.
Despite the darkness of the character, the actor found the core of the story in the relationship between Yan Tuo and Nie Jiuluo as one of mutual redemption. The most defining moment for their chemistry, according to him, was the scene where Nie Jiuluo rescues him from the underground tunnel.
“That moment strongly resonated with the feeling of salvation. In such utter despair, someone appears like a beam of light shining on his life and on him,” Chen Xingxu concluded, highlighting that this theme of redemption is the strongest point of the couple in Love on the Turquoise Land.
Oliver Chen’s documented dedication and physical commitment are certainly adding to the hype surrounding Love on the Turquoise Land, which is currently airing.
