The self-confessed “King of Selfies”, Chow lived up to his name at the press conference for his summer blockbuster Cold War 2 by getting snap happy with every journalist present using his minder’s smartphone, smiling and saying “see it’s very fast!” He covered the entire room without leaving anyone out, to applause all round.

Remember this scene in Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End? Ok, so it wasn’t really set in Singapore but Chow did give a pretty impressive introduction to our city-state in the film. Chow is even sometimes referred to as Singapore’s favourite son-in-law because his wife, Jasmine Tan, hails from here. When in town, he reportedly hits up his favourite food joints, which includes Founder Bak Kut Teh.

Chow was spotted in July this year on a date night with his wife, Jasmine. What did they do you ask? Well, they went to see Chow’s latest film of course! Eagle-eyed fans spotted them at a Hong Kong cinema lining up for tickets just like an ordinary couple. On being recognised, Chow signed autographs and took selfies with his admirers before heading for the show.

(Read on: 10 Indoor Ideas For Date Night In Singapore)

Celebrities are all about going big or going home when it comes to birthday celebrations but not Chow Yun Fat. When he hit the big 6-0 last year, the superstar actor chose to ring in the milestone with a simple Hakka Village Dinner for 20 of his closest friends. The total bill? Just S$517.

The actor has recently spoken about taking a break from acting to focus on his health, saying he has overtaxed his body and it was time to rebuild it. Chow, who went into show business when he was 18, said he exercises daily by walking for half an hour, running for another 30 minutes and working his muscles to avoid having to use crutches in future.

Surprisingly for such a huge superstar, Chow isn’t particularly fazed by fame. In fact, he says he is rarely recognized. “Ninety percent of the people on the subway would be staring down at their phones. Who would even notice me? It’s like stepping into an abandoned land!” And forget about limousines or luxury cars – Chow says he’s happy to hop onto a crowded bus with the public while dressed in clothes purchased years ago.

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In an age where every single person seems to be upgrading their smartphone to the latest model, Chow takes pride in the fact that he doesn’t have one. But he says that although he does not have an iPhone, he loves it. “I love that you can gif or Boomerang by taking many pictures in a burst. I love Boomerang!” he exclaimed.

Chow says he enjoys the freedom of being responsible for his own needs, especially when it comes to transportation. “If I hire a driver, I would feel bad because he would have to wait for me all day long. I would be anxious because I know that someone is waiting for me. It would be very frustrating!” says the actor. He adds that he also likes to people watch as he traipses around Hong Kong’s many alleys and laneways.

We love when huge superstars know the value of money even though they have large amounts of it. Chow is the perfect example of frugality saying that it was his mother actually who instilled him with good financial sense. She reportedly taught him early on to save ten percent from every paycheck and calls thriftiness a virtue.

(Read more: 8 Must Know Money Managing Tips To Know In Your 30s)

Let’s face it, Chow Yun Fat is a cinematic legend. In Asia alone, he’s made more than 70 films between 1976 and 1995, and was nominated for 12 Hong Kong film awards (he won three). He’s also one of Asia’s biggest stars overseas, amassing critical acclaim for movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Pirates of the Carribbean: At World’s End.