In Shanghai Wei Junluo found work at a photo studio owned by He Zuomin, a photographer for the Mingxing Film Company.[4] Influenced by the studio's many customers from the film industry, she became fascinated with acting.[3] In 1940 she enrolled in a drama school and was employed by the Xinhua Film Company after graduation. She adopted the name Shangguan Yunzhu suggested by the influential director Bu Wancang.[2] After successfully playing the female lead in Cao Yu's stage play Thunderstorm, Shangguan joined the Yihua Company and made her film debut in Fallen Rose in 1941.[2]