Chinese Actress Jia Ling’s self-directed and self-acted comedy film “Hot and Spicy,” which depicts the transformation of a homebody into a boxer, has achieved an astonishing box office revenue of nearly 3.5 billion yuan after its release during the Chinese New Year season. Despite Jia Ling’s successful weight loss, she has experienced “side effects” such as loose skin and prominent wrinkles due to rapid weight loss. Recently, when she attended a brand event, she was found to have a much rounder face compared to before, leading to speculation that she might have gained back the weight she had lost before filming.
According to reports from mainland Chinese media, “Hot and Spicy” started filming in September 2022 and wrapped up in November 2023, with five interruptions during filming, totaling nearly a year of shooting. To portray the role of a boxer, Jia Ling intentionally gained 20 kilograms, filming the first half of the movie with a weight of 105 kilograms, then underwent eight months of boxing training while simultaneously losing 50 kilograms through aerobic exercise and dietary control to achieve the physique of a boxer for the second half of the film.
Before the release of the new film, Jia Ling posted on Weibo emphasizing to her followers, “This film has nothing to do with weight loss, and not even much to do with boxing. It’s a movie about how kind people find themselves and learn to love themselves.” During the promotion of the film, Jia Ling also displayed a never-before-seen mature demeanor. However, the public generally believes that Jia Ling’s “weight loss” was a selling point of the movie. The film has maintained high levels of discussion since its release, and audience curiosity has always revolved around the “slimmed-down Jia Ling” spectacle. In the end, the film garnered an incredible nearly 3.5 billion yuan box office revenue, solidifying Jia Ling’s position as the top female director in mainland China.
Despite Jia Ling’s successful weight loss, the rapid weight loss came with its “side effects,” such as loose skin, and more prominent wrinkles when she smiles, which have been pointed out to make her look older. Though her actual age is 41, her visual age is said to be in the 50s.
On September 13, at a public event, photos of Jia Ling having gained weight again surfaced online. In the photos, Jia Ling is seen wearing a loose white top, appearing bloated with less defined waistline and even her once sunken cheeks looking more rounded, prompting comments from netizens like “Comedy Queen Jia Ling is back.” According to Jia Ling herself, she has gained back to around 70 kilograms, 15 kilograms heavier than her lightest weight of 55 kilograms during filming.
Opinions among netizens regarding Jia Ling’s weight gain are mixed. Some find her cuter and more approachable when she is heavier, while others express concerns about her health and question the effectiveness of her weight loss methods. There are also netizens jokingly suggesting that Jia Ling’s weight fluctuations seem like they are filming a “Weight Loss Sequel,” leaving many curious about how the “plot” will develop next.