What’s real and what’s not in Kung Fu Yoga?

Luxury super sports cars getting smashed up. A pink diamond the size of a baby’s fist. Camels racing on a sand strip alongside an actual tarmac road. Actors diving underwater in the Icelandic outdoors, surrounded by glaciers.

Real or not real?

Jackie Chan’s latest action flick isn’t afraid to take hyperbole to the next level, and that’s exactly what director Stanley Tong does in Kung Fu Yoga, which opens in cinemas today.

Shot to the tune of US$65 million and involving even Dubai royalty, what happened behind the scenes was just as mind-boggling as the plot of this action comedy.

In fact, Jackie Chan revealed that he had persisted with filming right after a five-hour operation was performed on him to correct the alignment of his intestines.

Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong, and leading ladies Disha Patani, Amyra Dastur and Mu Qimiya spill the goss when they were in town last Friday to promote the film.

From left: Disha Patani, Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong, Mu Qimiya, and Amyra Dastur at the Kung Fu Yoga press conference last Friday.

The world’s most expensive super sports cars getting smashed up – REAL

The car chase in Kung Fu Yoga took place in Dubai, where Lamborghinis and Aston Martins are used as police cars, and where the royal family is said to own a fleet of more than 400 luxury cars. The Dubai government and royal family generously offered their full support to the making of the film, and didn’t charge the producers a single cent for borrowing a number of super cars, including Ferraris, Bentleys, Lamborghinis, and limited edition Bugatti Veyrons and McLarens.

When the bumper of one of the limited edition McLaren cars was damaged during the filming of the car chase, the crew got a bit worried not just because of the expense of repair but also because they hadn’t completed the scene yet. To their surprise, a new McLaren was delivered the next day – the sheik had ordered the shop to have his blue McLaren covered in yellow so the crew could complete the shoot.

In return for loaning the cars at no cost, the sheik did have one request: Dinner with Jackie Chan, pictures and his autograph. Of course, Chan graciously obliged.

A pink diamond the size of a baby’s fist – NOT A DIAMOND BUT A…

The “Eye of Shiva” is embellished with more than 50 crystals and features a showpiece with 28 facets. (Image credit: Luxury Insider)

Swarovski crystal with 28 facets and custom-made for the film. The “Eye of Shiva” sceptre plays a prominent role in Kung Fu Yoga, being the key to unlocking the treasure. The sceptre is embellished with more than 50 Swarovski crystals in shades of Vintage Rose and Siam.

Camels racing while their owners drive alongside them – REAL

Camels race while their owners control the robotic jockey from the comfort of their vehicles. (Image credit: timeoutdubai.com)

Camel-racing is a glamorous tradition in Dubai and the Emiratis have introduced some modern tweaks to the sport. For example, trainers/owners use a robotic jockey (child jockeys have been banned since 2002 due to human rights concerns) to whip the animal, controlling it remotely from the vehicles they ride in to stalk their camels. In Kung Fu Yoga, you’ll catch one such fantastic scene when Jackie Chan is in Dubai trying to hunt down the “Eye of Shiva”.

Actors diving underwater in Iceland – REAL

Chan and Patani dive into an icy river in Iceland, braving temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius. (Image credit: Golden Village Pictures)

Shortly after his five-hour operation in London, Chan flew to Iceland to continue shooting. It was already so cold that camera lenses were freezing up and actors’ fingers had turned blue, but there was this one scene where Chan and co-star Patani had to jump into an icy river with their helmets on. Patani explained that they had to wear weights on top of their cumbersome clothes in order to dive and swim underwater, while holding their breaths, and without using stunt doubles. Director Tong was underwater with them the whole time, helping to pull Patani out of the water before assisting Jackie Chan. “We filmed Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992) together and I knew he could take a little more,” laughed Tong.

How many more unreal scenes can you find in Kung Fu Yoga? Watch the movie this Chinese New Year weekend to find out!

Sources: www.luxury-insider.com, straitstimes.com, timeoutdubai.com

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