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| Why Dilraba Dilmurat Gained 9kg and Trained for Three Months for Kung Fu Soccer. (Weibo) |
Dilraba Dilmurat has become one of the biggest talking points ahead of Stephen Chow's upcoming film Kung Fu Soccer (功夫女足), but not because of a glamorous red-carpet appearance. The actress revealed she deliberately gained around nine kilograms, built more muscle and completely changed her look to play football striker Yu Long, marking one of the most dramatic physical transformations of her career. As anticipation builds before the film's cinema release, her commitment to the role is generating almost as much discussion as the film itself.
The upcoming sports comedy marks Stephen Chow's long-awaited return to directing after several years away from the big screen. Scheduled to open in Chinese cinemas on 11 July 2026, the film is widely viewed as the spiritual successor to the beloved Shaolin Soccer, combining football, martial arts and Chow's signature offbeat humour.
Expectations are naturally sky high, because following up a cult classic is never exactly the easiest assignment. For Dilraba, the role of Yu Long, the number eight striker for the Emei women's team, demanded much more than simply learning how to kick a football.
The character is portrayed as an unpredictable, fearless forward who combines kung fu techniques with explosive attacking play.
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| Dilraba Dilmurat Reveals 9kg Weight Gain for Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Soccer |
To convincingly portray that level of physicality, the actress reportedly increased her body weight by around nine kilograms while reducing her body fat to roughly 15 per cent, creating a far more athletic build than audiences are used to seeing.
The transformation extended well beyond the scales. Dilireba cut her hair shorter, developed a noticeably darker tan and abandoned the polished image that has become synonymous with many of her previous dramas.
Instead of looking camera-ready at every moment, she adopted the appearance of a hardworking grassroots footballer who spends more time sliding across muddy pitches than posing for magazine covers. Safe to say, skincare brands probably had to look away for a while.
Preparing for the role also meant months of demanding physical work. Reports say Dilraba spent three months in intensive training, learning football fundamentals from the ground up.
Dribbling, juggling, tactical movement, physical challenges and shooting drills all became part of her daily routine. Rather than relying heavily on stunt doubles, she insisted on performing many of her own action scenes, including a technically difficult bicycle kick sequence suspended on wires that reportedly required 17 takes and left her with bruises around her waist.
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Her preparation did not stop on the football pitch. To better understand the martial arts elements woven into the film, Dilraba also studied staff techniques inspired by traditional kung fu, reportedly visiting the Shaolin Temple to observe movement and body mechanics that could be adapted into the exaggerated football action sequences.
It is exactly the kind of wonderfully over-the-top commitment audiences expect from a Stephen Chow production, where scoring a goal is rarely just about putting the ball in the net.
The production itself is every bit as ambitious as the cast's preparation. Kung Fu Soccer reportedly carries a budget of around 380 million RMB, with roughly half dedicated to visual effects.
More than 1,200 CGI shots have been created to bring Chow's imaginative football universe to life, promising spectacular action that blends martial arts choreography with outrageous sporting moments. If the trailer is any indication, subtlety was never invited onto the pitch.
Joining Dilraba is an impressive ensemble featuring Zhang Xiaofei as team captain Shuangshuang, Lay Zhang as martial arts coach Xu Feng, alongside appearances from veteran actress Carina Lau and former Chinese women's national team goalkeeper Zhao Lina.
The newly announced cast list also surprised audiences with the inclusion of Japanese actor Takeru Satoh in a special role, adding another international dimension to the project.
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News of Takeru Satoh's involvement quickly reignited online speculation after older photographs showing him alongside Lay Zhang resurfaced across social media.
Fans who had previously guessed the pair were secretly working together suddenly found themselves celebrating what they called the confirmation of one of the year's worst-kept entertainment secrets. Sometimes internet detectives really do get one right, even if they usually connect dots that belong to entirely different puzzles.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaofei also underwent her own dramatic transformation for the film. The award-winning actress reportedly cut off her signature long hair and completed months of intensive fitness training to portray the disciplined goalkeeper and team captain.
With much of the leading cast committing to significant physical changes, it is clear that Stephen Chow expected dedication long before the cameras started rolling.
Movie fans have praised Dilraba's willingness to step outside conventional beauty expectations, describing her transformation as one of the most convincing physical changes seen in recent Chinese cinema and they have applauded her commitment to completing demanding action sequences herself, arguing it adds greater authenticity to the role.
One thing most viewers seem to agree on is that seeing Dilraba trading elegant red carpets for muddy tackles was certainly not on anyone's 2026 bingo card.
Kung Fu Soccer arrives in cinemas across China on 11 July 2026, giving audiences their first chance to see whether Stephen Chow can recreate the magic of Shaolin Soccer with a new generation of stars led by Dilraba Dilmurat, Zhang Xiaofei and Lay Zhang Yixing.