Jet Li: ' My first marriage was out of obligation'

Chinese superstar Jet Li married his first wife because she looked after him, not because he loved her.

The Romeo Must Die actor wed a classmate who was two years his senior in 1987, before the couple divorced in 1990.

And Li admits he agreed to tie the knot out of duty.

He says: "My family was poor. Her family was well-off. She often took care of me. That's how it happened. I didn't know what love was.

"In terms of how much emotion each person devoted, she maybe gave 90% or 80%. At most I gave… I still haven't figured out. When we parted, we were really like friends."

However, Li has since learned the meaning of true love with his current wife Nina Li Chi, his co-star in the 1988 movie Dragon Fight (Long Zai Tian Ya).

He adds: "You realise: 'I put myself out there. I can give up my fame and success, give up my status, give up my money. I'm even willing to die for her.' You realise this is love."