Andy Lau dithers, Shenyang titters but Wong purrs

There are mixed messages emanating from Andy Lau over his impending marriage to long-term girlfriend, the Malaysian former beauty queen Carol Chu.

First, the good news. According to yesterday's The Star Online, Chu was recently spotted shopping for a wedding ring in Hong Kong. Further, the Malaysian agency says Lau will be holding a birthday party for his wife-to-be on April 6, and plans to hand out wedding invitations at the same time. It adds the couple is expected to tie the knot after Lau finishes his concert tour on April 27.

But hold the front page. An Express Daily cover article is claiming Lau has called off the wedding because he's got cold feet. The article speculates Lau wants to preserve his pop idol image and prefers a quiet bachelor life. As if to offer proof of its assertions, the Express Daily says Lau shook his head in denial when reporters asked him about his nuptials. The magazine further muddies the water by claiming Chu is pregnant.

Comedian Xiao Shenyang has the global economic crisis to thank for his latest slice of good luck. According to various Chinese-language reports, the country's premier director Zhang Yimou thinks a comedy thriller will bring some light relief and has picked the fast-talker to star in his upcoming film.

Zhang has just returned to Beijing after visiting comedic master Zhao Benshan and his theater troupe in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on a casting mission. In what could be a case of the student surpassing the master, Zhao may not be offered a part, according to Zhang's film producer Zhang Weiping. Screen Daily, however, says Zhao will have a role.

Xiao Shenyang became an overnight sensation after appearing in the 2009 Spring Festival Gala and recently shot an automobile advertisement for 2 million yuan ($300,000).

Life is about to begin again at 40 for Faye "Queen of Heaven" Wong, who is set to reignite her singing career with a record-breaking shampoo commercial. According to "sources close to the star" (cn.msn.com) she has demanded 20 million yuan ($3 million) to endorse the hair-care product. This is 6 million yuan more than action hero Jackie Chan received for a similar series of adverts.

Wong, who celebrates her fourth decade in August, retired in 2005 when she married TV actor Li Yaping and later gave birth to a daughter. Although she has since made a couple of public appearances at fundraising events for her Smile Angel Foundation to help children born with a cleft lip, like her second child, the sources say Wong's return to the stage is timed to coincide with her debut as a recording artist 20 years ago, when she was plain Shirley Wong.