Gurmit speaks: What you didn’t know about Gurmit Singh

SINGAPORE — We all know Gurmit as the funny man on TV or the perennial show host at the National Day or New Year’s countdown shows. But here are some things you may not have heard about.

GURMIT WAS A BACK-UP DANCER

“In ’86 or ’87, while I was in the Music And Drama Company, I was also working as a part-time dancer for shows. I was even a back-up dancer for Jacintha (Abishegenaden). It was a pair of twins and me, dancing back-up while she did her jazz songs.”

HE WAS A ‘LION MAN’

“I (performed) at Haw Par Villa for four years. It was a theme park, so we had an amphitheatre show. We also did cross-training with pugilists. Very soon, I was the back of a lion in a lion dance. I was doing the javelin dance as well. And drums and cymbals, swords, wushu, ballet, tap dancing, Chinese dance. When I came (to TV) and had to work hard, it was nothing compared with back there.”

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN UNDER ONE ROOF

“I was supposed to be a pub singer who comes over in the day in my jammies, very blur because I just finished work. I was this close to being cast. Every time I watched Under One Roof, I thought, ‘I could have been in that show!’ The next thing you know, as life would have it, I ended up being PCK.”

PHUA CHU KANG’S MOLE IS APPLIED WITH MATHEMATICAL PRECISION

“It’s actually cotton wool with makeup glue and black colouring. I now have a red spot here — where the eyebrow ends, draw a line down, where my mouth is, draw a line across — (the mole is at the spot)where the lines meet. It just so happens that that spot pulsates my tear glands. I went through three moles and the third mole I ate by mistake, during a dinner scene.”

PCK’s EXTRA-LONG PINKY NAIL IS A STICK-ON

“I tried growing it long, but then my wife said, ‘Okay, darling, if it grows any more, I’m not going to let you sleep in the same bed. It looks very gross’.”

THE NICEST THING SOMEONE HAS SAID TO HIM IS ...

“‘It must be such a blessing to know you can bring so much joy to others.’ I wanted to just lie prone in front of her and kiss her feet. Most of the time, they just say, ‘Eh, take picture can or not? Eh, how? Eat already ah?’ Which is kind of nice also. This woman went beyond that. This was in ’96 or ’97.”

THE RUDEST THING SOMEONE HAS SAID TO HIM IS ...

“‘Gurmit! Can you pass these flowers to Fann Wong?’”