Leon Lai's directorial debut, Wine War, will feature Lai (left), supermodel-turned-actress Du Juan in major roles.[Photo provided to China Daily]

"As a newbie, I don't dare expect a big return," Lai says. "I'm not scared of failure. It's a new start for me. I will learn."

The movie centers on a bottle of red wine produced in 1855.

The inspiration for the film came from his friends, who guided Lai on how to taste and judge red wine.

"It stirred my interest. From my research, I found that China began making red wine from as early as the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)," he says.

Besides Lai, who plays one of the major roles, the cast features veteran actor Zhang Hanyu, known for The Taking of Tiger Mountain and Operation Mekong, Taiwan actor David Wang and supermodel-turned-actress Du Juan.

The filming was shot in China and France.

Speaking about Lai's direction, Zhang says:"I believe he should explore more."

His view is echoed by Huang Jianxin, the producer known for hits, such as The Warlords and Bodyguards and Assassins.