From hero to anguish: the decline of My beautiful princess 2 Star Zhu Hongjia and her twenty-year grief for Liu Dan
Once adored for his portrayal of Xiao Jian, Xiao Yan Zi’s heroic older brother in the beloved Chinese drama My beautiful princess 2—Zhu Hongjia captured hearts with his gallant image and sincere performance. But two decades later, fans are stunned by his aged, pained appearance and a painful history of loss that has never faded.
Recent photos show Zhu dressed in a casual sports jacket, his figure noticeably heavier and his hair cropped short and mostly silver. Although his face remains relatively wrinkle-free, his tired expression and dramatic transformation are reflected a man shaped by years of emotional turmoil.
Xiao Jian – The nation “Ideal big brother”
In the early 2000s, Xiao Jian stood out My beautiful princess 2 for his righteousness, courage and a touching love story with Qinger (played by Wang Yan). Their on-screen relationship was widely praised and considered as emotionally compelling as the main romantic leads, Xiao Yan Zi and Yongqi.
A promising start that never reached stardom
Born in 1970 and educated at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy, Zhu has starred in major productions such as The legend of the Condor heroes, Soccer playerAND The legend of Shen Li. However, despite his early promise, Zhu’s career never rose to A-list fame. He eventually settled into supporting roles and gradually faded from public attention.
The tragedy of Liu Dan: a turning point
The turning point in Zhu’s life came in 2000 when Liu Dan, the actress behind the elegant Xiang Fei, tragically died in a car accident while traveling to promote My beautiful princess 2 with Zhu and a cameraman. Liu Dan, just 25 years old, was resting in the back seat when the vehicle crashed. Zhu, who sat in front, was forced to witness the terrible consequences.
In interviews, Zhu recounted the traumatic moment: “She was thrown from the car, her head hit the road and blood came out of her nose and mouth.” Despite immediate medical attention, Liu Dan died from her injuries, devastating fans and colleagues alike.
Bitterness towards Zhao Wei and Ruby Lin
What deepened Zhu’s emotional wounds was the absence of Zhao Wei and Ruby Lin—who played Xiao Yan Zi and Ziwei, respectively—from Liu Dan’s funeral. Zhu reportedly harbored resentment for years, believing that their absence reflected a lack of respect. Zhao Wei explained it later his fame at the time could have caused chaos during the solemn eventbut the emotional scar remained.
A life marked by pain
Although Zhu continued to act in dramas such as The legend of Shen Li AND Soccer playerhe never regained his former charisma. Today, his gray hair and withdrawn look are very different from the confident sword-wielding Xiao Jian of the past. His grief over Liu Dan’s death, combined with a declining career, appears to have aged him well beyond his years.
Zhu Hongjia’s story is much more than just a visual transformation: it is a reflection of pain, loss, and the lingering impact of a tragedy that rewrote the course of his life and his image in the eyes of the public.
Sources: kenh14
