Actor Andy Lau attends a promotional event in Hong Kong June 5, 2006. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (HONG KONG)

Veteran Hong Kong actor-singer Andy Lau has denied rumors that he's gay.

Asked by an interviewer on Hong Kong's TVB station whether he's a homosexual, Lau said, "I'm not, but if you say I am, I don't think it's a bad thing. Maybe my attitude has caused misunderstanding. I've never pronounced loudly I'm not gay, and I don't think there's the need to do so."

"I have gays friends," said Lau, 44, in the interview, carried in the current issue of the Ming Pao Weekly magazine on Sunday after being aired Saturday.

Asked about experiences with gays showing romantic interest in him, Lau said, "It's very direct. They're a very frank crowd."

Separately, Lau said he had auditioned for the Hollywood movies "M. Butterfly" and "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" - two films he ultimately didn't sign up for.

Lau has said he gave up "M. Butterfly" - about a love affair between a Chinese transvestite and a French diplomat - because he found a scene offensive.

"I asked the director if he could change that scene,'' said Lau. "I said I'm a superstar in Asia. This movie factors in the Asian market too. If I do that, it will affect my image."

The director refused.

"To them, I'm nothing," Lau said. He said the lead role in "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" went to Jason Scott Lee because he's a better fighter.

Asked if he still wants to pursue a career in the U.S., he said, "I don't think they have any roles to offer to Asian men ... It's not something I have a great desire to do. The reality is they rarely make movies with Chinese. I don't think they respect Chinese, unless I make a film directed by a Chinese director."

Lau is known as a fierce Chinese nationalist. In the interview, he took issue with people who complain that he frequently performs in the traditional Chinese robe-like cheong sam.

"Some people say, 'he's singing in cheong sam again?' I think it's very annoying," Lau said. "What's wrong with cheong sam? I don't know if the people who say that are Chinese. "