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| Liu Nian Reveals Why She Ditched Idol Life for Short Drama Stardom |
Former AKB48 Team SH member Liu Nian has finally opened up about why she’s stepped away from idol activities and is now thriving in the booming short-drama industry.
Turns out, it’s all about the numbers. Liu Nian revealed that shooting short dramas can bag her up to 100,000 RMB (around 14k USD) per day.
That’s the kind of paycheck that makes the idol stage look like a side hustle.
One week of filming alone equals the annual salary of an average worker — no wonder she’s living on set rather than the stage these days.
During the live stream, aside from mentioning money, she also said she has gained more experience and made more friends among fellow actors, which has been more valuable for her.
ICYMI: Liu Nian Dating He Congrui.
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Liu Nian’s departure from AKB48 Team SH wasn’t exactly a quiet exit.
Back in December 2024, fans noticed her official Weibo had scrubbed any mention of Team SH.
A month earlier, the group’s management even announced legal action, accusing her of breaching her exclusivity contract by working with other parties.
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Despite the tension, Liu Nian has since carved her own lane.
She’s not just surviving the messy transition from idol life — she’s levelling up.
Liu Nian has racked up some serious wins in the short-drama scene.
Her breakout, Palace Maid Fuyao, topped Douyin’s 2024 short-drama chart with over 2.5 billion views.
Another hit, Words of Liu Nian (念念有词), broke 1.5 billion discussions online and crossed 1 billion views across platforms.
That’s blockbuster-level reach in a fraction of the runtime.
Audiences are also warming to her acting chops.
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Her role in Hunting Crime Illustrations 2 (2024) as the delicate Min Xue left a lasting impression, especially with her sharp delivery of emotional lines that viewers couldn’t stop quoting.
Step by step, she’s proving she’s more than just a pretty idol face.
Before her drama success, Liu Nian’s journey was a rollercoaster.
She first appeared in Tencent’s Produce 101 (2018), charming fans with her classic plaid idol outfit and high-energy performance.
By 2020, she made waves again on Produce Camp 2020, labelled a “repeat contestant” but showing massive growth in dancing and stage control.
She didn’t debut, finishing 12th, but the performance earned her respect.
Returning to AKB48 Team SH, she dominated the general elections three years in a row, crowned the undisputed “Queen of Team SH” before her exit.
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With her career in short dramas skyrocketing, Liu Nian’s story feels like one ripped straight out of a web novel — a determined main character rising against the odds.
She’s one of the rare few short-drama actresses who can even withstand the unforgiving cameras of CCTV, showing that her acting isn’t just smoke and mirrors.