HONG KONG -- Famed Chinese director Chen Kaige has finished shooting his US$15 million (?9.9 million) profile of late Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang, a publicist said Wednesday.

Chen started shooting in July and wrapped up the production last week, R.J. Hsu, a publicist for the movie, told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

The movie stars Hong Kong actor-singer Leon Lai and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

Hsu said the director will now move into post-production, referring to the process of editing, dubbing and special effects.

He said it's still unclear when the film will be released and if it will be entered at any upcoming film festivals.

Born in 1894, Mei was known for developing the performance of female characters in Chinese opera and was a pioneer in promoting Peking Opera abroad, touring Japan, the US and the Soviet Union. He died in 1961.

"Mei Lanfang" marks Chen's return to Chinese opera after the success of his 1993 film "Farewell My Concubine."

That movie, about the homosexual relationship between two Peking Opera stars, won the Golden Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival and earned two Oscar nominations.