Famously Funny

For Gurmit Singh, aka Phua Chu Kang, his incredible success comes from the greatest Giver of all. In an exclusive interview with Asian Beacon in Singapore, Gurmit speaks to Goh Bee Lee about God’s leading in his life. Even without his trademark dark and curly mop of hair, huge mole and yellow boots, actor-comedian Gurmit Singh was instantly recognisable by passersby when we met at the Shangri-La Hotel lobby. One doorman greeted him by name, while the other called out “Phua Chu Kang”.

Looking suave, trim and younger than his 45 years, Gurmit comes across as polite and friendly – nothing like the loud, garrulous contractor on our TV screen. He speaks at typical Punjabi speed and is sharp and alert, even after back-to-back meetings. Tight schedules are the price of fame. Unlike his alter ego Phua Chu Kang, whose famous tagline is “Don’t pray, pray” (his mispronunciation of the Singlish phrase, “Don’t play, play”), Gurmit is in constant contact with his “Big Boss” up there. “I know firsthand how important and powerful prayer is,” he says. “It was through prayer that I had my first few encounters with God.”

THE ROAD TO FAME

The hand of God is evident through Gurmit’s illustrious fast-tracked career. Despite his talents in singing, dancing and acting, he says he did not envision the success he’s enjoying now. “I did not plan on it. It was God who led me into the world of entertainment and performing arts.” Unlike most other aspiring artistes, he never had to go through audition after audition or face the usual numerous rejections. The doors simply opened for him. While in National Service, he performed with the unit’s Music and Drama Company. He had a stint as a backup dancer and was talent-spotted on his first job in a Haw Par Villa in-house musical. 

“These jobs were like stepping stones laid out for me, and all I had to do was to take steps of faith,” says Gurmit. “If God was not in the picture, how could I be ‘so lucky’, as people say? It was almost bizarre.” Even his holiday job at age 16, which involved carrying things around for a contractor, was no coincidence. It was this contractor, with his distinctive language and mannerisms, that inspired the TV character that propelled Gurmit to stardom. Before he put on his hard hat, Gurmit nearly became a computer geek instead. He was in his first year of a diploma course in computer programming when the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation offered him a contract to work on TV.

“I was in a dilemma because I was doing the Singapore thing – to reach as high as possible in my education,” he says. But encouraged by his then girlfriend (now wife), who understood his love for the performing arts, he decided to give it a try. He has never looked back since. From his own Gurmit’s World and Tonight with Gurmit variety shows, he went on to achieve incredible success as host, comedian, singer and actor, notching up numerous awards. For five successive years, he was voted one of the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes (Star Awards), and won the Best Comedy Actor Award at the Asian Television Awards five times.

Phua Chu Kang has taken Gurmit places. Though it can be difficult to shed that image, he is grateful because the character has helped his career. Though it has made him “public property”, he is glad that smiles light up wherever he goes – people are cordial and suddenly, the world seems a happier place, he says.

FINDING GOD

Despite his big image, Gurmit keeps the same hat size. Humble, honest and down-to-earth, he credits all he has achieved to God. Gurmit found Jesus in 1985 at age 20. “That was my most down period, when my mother was bedridden with cancer,” he recalls. His sisters invited him to a Reinhard Bonnke healing rally, where he heard God’s voice and surrendered his life to Him. By God’s grace, his mother lived another 16 years. After his conversion, Gurmit experienced great peace. “I was less angry,” he says. “I grew up getting into fights whenever I didn’t get my way. It was all about me, me, me! I had to be right all the time. I had no regard for others and their feelings.”

Today, he and his family worship at Grace Assembly on Tanglin Road. “Church is a wonderful place where I can pray and cry and not be judged,” he says. “There, everyone is the same – no celebrity status, no special perks and privileges.” He sings in the choir and has performed in skits a couple of times. Once, he tried teaching Sunday School, but had to get out quickly because his fame backfired. “All the kids were interested in was my autograph!” he says, laughing.

Despite his busy schedule, Gurmit still finds time for intimacy with God, be it praying in a quiet corner of the studio or listening to gospel music in the car. “I can tend my soul anywhere, anytime,” he says. “Isn’t it wonderful that as Christians, ours is a relationship with the Lord, not a tradition or ritual? It is a friendship not limited by geography or time.” Even after 15 years of show business, Gurmit still gets butterflies in the stomach. “I pray before every show,” he says. “I pray that whatever happens, it will not be about me but about God and according to His will.” “Sometimes, after a show, I look back and say, ‘That line was good. Where did it come from?’” He believes it could only be by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.