After the record-breaking success this summer of “Crazy Rich Asians”, a rare Hollywood film with an all-Asian cast, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a Bay Area visit from Kevin Kwan would be sold out — twice.

But Kwan, author of the best-selling novel (and two sequels) that the film is based on, was stunned by the large crowd of fans lined up to see him on Friday, Sept. 28, at Palo Alto High School.

Before a book signing and onstage conversation with Tan Kheng Hua (who plays Kerry Chu, protagonist Rachel Chu’s mother, in the film), Kwan spoke with The Chronicle about the success of the film, what it means for Asians, and what’s next.

Q: “Crazy Rich Asians” has been a historic hit. Did you expect this sort of success?

A: For the book, no. When I first started writing the books, it was really a hobby. I never thought I’d get it published.

But then with the film’s effect, it’s in a strange way not surprising. I mean, not in terms of the amazing box office. But I think there were a lot of concerns. In Hollywood, people were like, “It’s not going to cross over. Only Asians are going to see it.” And I was telling everyone from the very beginning, my readership — there’s an amazing core in Asian American support, Asians also, but it’s so much more. The book crossed over a long time ago. … It’s almost like this strange kind of racism, where it’s like they don’t expect a book about Asians to appeal to other people. Well, “Harry Potter” appeals to everyone. John Grisham appeals to everyone. Why wouldn’t my book? Just because it’s about Asians?

Q: In that sense, what do you think the film’s success indicates about those assumptions?

A: I think Hollywood underestimated what the public audience wants. And the public audience just wants a great story. They just want to learn new things. They want to be entertained. They want to feel good about themselves. I’m lucky that we had that, but we also benefited from this amazing, amazing support from the Asian community.

Q: What do you think that immense support says about the Asian American community?

A: I think within the Asian American community there has been a revolution. Things have changed massively in the last 10 years. I think it’s, first of all, the new generation of Asian Americans, Millennials and younger, that aren’t part of the generation that learned to just swallow your pain and not say anything and look down and be quiet, which was really kind of part of the generation I was part of.

Q: You’ve spoken about getting an initial offer to make the film that wanted characters to be whitewashed. Considering the right version of the film that got made was never guaranteed, why did you refuse to consider that initial offer?

A: It wasn’t even a choice for me. To me, I didn’t write a book to make a movie. I wrote a book to write a book. It’s like, if you respect the source material, why would you want to change it? You’ve missed the entire message. If you can even think to whitewash Rachel, I don’t want to work with you.

Q: You’re currently making a new TV show. What can you say about it?

A: It’s a one-hour drama for Amazon, and it’s going to be set in Hong Kong.

Q: Can you tell us what it’s about?

A: I can’t. Top secret!

Q: What about the sequel to “Crazy Rich Asians”?

A: The group is coming together now slowly. We’re forming the group all over again. And it’s exciting to see who will be involved, what will happen. It’s a new day. We hope to make another kick-ass movie and break new records.