Wang Qianyuan plays a police chief in the 31-episode TV series, The Battle at the Dawn. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Since the series began airing through two satellite channels in Beijing and Shanghai on March 10, it has soared to the second spot on the charts, according to the TV and broadcasting tracker CSM Media Research.

Meanwhile, despite the accolades he is receiving, Wang, who graduated from China's Central Academy of Drama, did cameos or unpopular leads in the first 15 years of his career.

But his win as best actor at the 23rd Tokyo International Film Festival for The Piano in a Factory in 2010 was a turning point.

The award then brought him lead roles on the big screen, such as in the Andy Lau-starring thriller Saving Mr Wu and 2017 comedy The Village of No Return, costarring with Taiwan star Shu Qi.

Wang, now followed by 1.5 million fans on the Chinese barometer of success Sina Weibo, the Chinese answer to Twitter, is an A-lister. But he says fame is not the most important thing for him.