Kane Lim beyond Netflix’s Bling Empire: the only Singaporean cast member talks Buddhism, Covid-19, property investing and friendship – exclusive interview
- Without Crazy Rich Asians’ success, Lim wonders if the hit reality TV show would have ever happened
- The series showed his strong friendships with cast mates Anna Shay and Kim Lee, and BFF Cherie Chan
It’s difficult to talk about Netflix’s hit reality series Bling Empire without bringing up the 2018 movie Crazy Rich Asians in the same breath. The Bling Empire cast is aware of the comparisons, too – Kane Lim, in fact, believes that if Crazy Rich Asians wasn’t as successful as it was, Bling Empire might have never got greenlit.
“I loved the film. When my friends first invited me to the premiere, I was like, ‘I’m not going. I don’t want to watch a crazy rich show,’” he recounted. “I just thought that the connotations of being rich can come off as very negative, obnoxious, rude and in your face.”
But eventually Lim gave it a chance, and he thought it was shot beautifully.
“I know some of the cast members. It highlighted Singapore so well; it put my country on the map. I’m so proud of the film and its success.”
“Singapore represents a multicultural, all-embracing, melting pot of people. I grew up with Indians, Malays, Chinese, Caucasians, African-Americans. I really appreciate that upbringing,” he said proudly. “The country is also really accepting in terms of religion.”
In addition to his love of Singapore’s racial and cultural diversity, Lim admires how safe his beloved city is. “At any time, I can walk on the streets and never feel like I am going to get mugged.”